For: Year 5 and Year 6 | Exams: KS2 SATs grammar, punctuation and spelling paper, and 11+ English
Jump to: Level 1 – SATs core · Level 2 – SATs stretch · Level 3 – 11+ standard · Level 4 – 11+ selective
📌 Show key words and rules
| Word or rule | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inverted commas | Marks that go round the exact words someone says. They are also called speech marks. | “My kite is stuck,” said Owen. |
| Direct speech | The exact words a person says, written inside inverted commas. | Priya said, “I need a new pencil.” |
| Reported speech | Telling what someone said without using their exact words, so there are no inverted commas. | Priya said that she needed a new pencil. |
| Reporting clause | The words that tell us who is speaking, such as said Ali or asked Mum. | “It’s snowing!” cried Noah. |
| Punctuation goes inside | The comma, full stop, question mark or exclamation mark that ends the spoken words goes inside the closing inverted commas. | “Are we nearly there?” asked Sita. |
| Comma with a reporting clause | If the reporting clause comes after the speech, end the speech with a comma instead of a full stop. If it comes first, put a comma after it. | “It’s cold,” said Tom. / Tom said, “It’s cold.” |
| Capital letter | The spoken words always start with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence. | Gran said, “Your tea is ready.” |
| Split speech | One spoken sentence broken into two parts by a reporting clause. The second part carries on the same sentence, so it starts with a small letter. | “When the bell rings,” said Mr Hall, “we will go out.” |
| New sentence after the reporting clause | If the speaker starts a new sentence after the reporting clause, use a full stop and a capital letter. | “I’m full,” said Ella. “Can I leave the rest?” |
| New speaker, new line | Every time a different person starts speaking, begin a new line. | “Who wants pizza?” asked Dad. “Me!” shouted Lola. |
| Changing direct to reported speech | Take away the inverted commas, add that, change I to he or she, and move the verb back in time (am becomes was). | “I am late,” said Finn. → Finn said that he was late. |
Level 1 – SATs core: spotting spoken words and adding inverted commas
Matches the quick one-mark questions in the KS2 SATs grammar, punctuation and spelling paper: find the words that are actually spoken and put inverted commas around them.
✏️ WORKED EXAMPLE: Insert inverted commas in the correct places.
Can we go to the beach today? asked Kofi.
Step 1: find the exact words Kofi says out loud: Can we go to the beach today? The words asked Kofi are not spoken; they tell us who is speaking.
Step 2: put the opening inverted commas just before the first spoken word, Can. Put the closing inverted commas after the question mark, because the question mark belongs to the spoken words.
Step 3: check the rest of the sentence is outside the inverted commas: “Can we go to the beach today?” asked Kofi.
Common mistake: closing the inverted commas before the question mark (“Can we go to the beach today”? asked Kofi.) or putting asked Kofi inside them.
Your turn
Q1.1 Underline the words that are spoken.
“My tooth is wobbly,” said Hana.
Show answer
The words inside the inverted commas are what Hana says: My tooth is wobbly
Q1.2 Insert inverted commas in the correct places.
I love painting, said Mateo.
Show answer
Mateo says I love painting. The comma belongs to the speech, so it goes inside: “I love painting,” said Mateo.
Q1.3 Tick one sentence that uses inverted commas correctly.
☐ “Look at that rainbow! shouted Ellie.”
☐ “Look at that rainbow!” shouted Ellie.
☐ “Look at that rainbow”! shouted Ellie.
☐ Look at “that rainbow!” shouted Ellie.
Show answer
The inverted commas must go round all the spoken words and the exclamation mark, but not round shouted Ellie: “Look at that rainbow!” shouted Ellie.
Q1.4 Insert inverted commas in the correct places.
Grandad said, The garden needs watering.
Show answer
The spoken words come after the reporting clause Grandad said. The full stop ends the speech, so it goes inside: Grandad said, “The garden needs watering.”
Q1.5 Tick one sentence that is written in direct speech.
☐ Amir said that he was hungry.
☐ Amir asked if lunch was ready.
☐ “Is lunch ready?” asked Amir.
☐ Amir wondered whether lunch was ready.
Show answer
Direct speech gives the exact words spoken, inside inverted commas. The other three only report what Amir said or thought: “Is lunch ready?” asked Amir.
Q1.6 Insert inverted commas in the correct places.
Where is my lunchbox? asked Ruby.
Show answer
Ruby’s question is the spoken part, and the question mark belongs to it: “Where is my lunchbox?” asked Ruby.
Q1.7 Insert inverted commas in the correct places.
Mrs Okafor said, Please line up by the door.
Show answer
The spoken words start at Please and end with the full stop: Mrs Okafor said, “Please line up by the door.”
Q1.8 Tick one sentence that needs inverted commas.
☐ Leah told us that she had a new kitten.
☐ I have a new kitten, said Leah.
☐ Leah has a new kitten called Biscuit.
☐ We asked Leah about her kitten.
Show answer
Only one sentence contains Leah’s exact words (I have a new kitten), so only that one needs inverted commas: I have a new kitten, said Leah. (correctly written: “I have a new kitten,” said Leah.)
Q1.9 Insert inverted commas in the correct places.
Stop that noise! yelled the caretaker.
Show answer
The exclamation mark belongs to the spoken words, so it goes inside: “Stop that noise!” yelled the caretaker.
Q1.10 The inverted commas in this sentence are in the wrong place. Rewrite the sentence correctly.
“Jamal whispered, I can see the fox.”
Show answer
Jamal whispered is not spoken, so it must be outside. Only Jamal’s words go inside: Jamal whispered, “I can see the fox.”
Level 2 – SATs stretch: punctuation inside the inverted commas and the reporting clause
Matches the harder SATs questions: choose the right punctuation mark, use a capital letter at the start of the speech and move the reporting clause before or after the spoken words.
✏️ WORKED EXAMPLE: Punctuate this sentence correctly.
the bus is late said Freya
Step 1: find the spoken words: the bus is late. The reporting clause is said Freya.
Step 2: the speech starts with a capital letter: The. The spoken sentence would normally end with a full stop, but because the reporting clause comes next, use a comma instead, inside the inverted commas.
Step 3: put a full stop at the end of the whole sentence, after Freya: “The bus is late,” said Freya.
Common mistake: writing a full stop inside the speech (“The bus is late.” said Freya.) or putting the comma outside the inverted commas (“The bus is late”, said Freya.).
Your turn
Q2.1 Insert the missing comma.
“I’ve finished my homework” said Nadia.
Show answer
The comma ends the spoken words and goes inside the closing inverted commas: “I’ve finished my homework,” said Nadia.
Q2.2 Insert the missing comma.
Kai asked “Can I borrow your ruler?”
Show answer
When the reporting clause comes first, a comma goes after it, before the opening inverted commas: Kai asked, “Can I borrow your ruler?”
Q2.3 Tick one sentence that is punctuated correctly.
☐ “What time is it,” asked Isla.
☐ “What time is it?” asked Isla.
☐ “What time is it?”, asked Isla.
☐ “What time is it”? asked Isla.
Show answer
A question keeps its question mark (not a comma) inside the inverted commas, and no extra comma is added after it: “What time is it?” asked Isla.
Q2.4 Rewrite the sentence, correcting the capital letter error.
Tariq said, “we should go now.”
Show answer
Direct speech always starts with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence: Tariq said, “We should go now.”
Q2.5 Rewrite the sentence so that the reporting clause comes at the start.
“The library closes at five,” said Mrs Begum.
Show answer
Put the reporting clause first, followed by a comma. The speech now ends the sentence, so the comma inside becomes a full stop: Mrs Begum said, “The library closes at five.”
Q2.6 Rewrite the sentence so that the reporting clause comes at the end.
Lily shouted, “Watch out!”
Show answer
The exclamation mark stays inside the inverted commas, and the reporting clause follows with a lower-case letter: “Watch out!” shouted Lily. (“Watch out!” Lily shouted. is also accepted.)
Q2.7 Explain why there is a comma after said in this sentence.
Jack said, “It’s my turn.”
Show answer
The comma separates the reporting clause (Jack said) from the direct speech that follows it.
Q2.8 Which punctuation mark should go in the box? Tick one.
“Put your coats on□” called Miss Evans.
☐ full stop
☐ comma
☐ question mark
☐ colon
Show answer
The reporting clause comes after the speech, and the speech is not a question, so a comma ends the spoken words: comma (“Put your coats on,” called Miss Evans.)
Q2.9 Punctuate this sentence correctly.
do you like my drawing asked Chloe
Show answer
Capital letter to start the speech, a question mark inside the inverted commas, and a full stop at the very end: “Do you like my drawing?” asked Chloe.
Q2.10 There is one mistake in this sentence. Rewrite it correctly.
“That was brilliant!” Said Grandma.
Show answer
The sentence carries on after the exclamation mark, so the reporting clause does not start with a capital letter: “That was brilliant!” said Grandma.
Level 3 – 11+ standard: split speech, new speaker new line and editing dialogue
Typical of grammar-school 11+ English papers. Decide whether the speech carries on after the reporting clause or a new sentence begins, and start a new line for each new speaker.
✏️ WORKED EXAMPLE: Punctuate this sentence correctly.
if it stops raining said Mum we can go to the park
Step 1: find the spoken words: if it stops raining … we can go to the park. This is one spoken sentence, split in the middle by the reporting clause said Mum.
Step 2: the first part starts with a capital letter and ends with a comma inside the inverted commas: “If it stops raining,”
Step 3: the speech carries on after said Mum, so put a comma after Mum and start the second part with a lower-case letter: “If it stops raining,” said Mum, “we can go to the park.”
Common mistake: giving we a capital letter. The second part is not a new sentence; it finishes the sentence Mum started.
Your turn
Q3.1 Insert the missing commas.
“When we get home” said Ayaan “I’m having a bath.”
Show answer
One spoken sentence is split by said Ayaan, so there is a comma inside the first closing inverted commas and a comma after the reporting clause: “When we get home,” said Ayaan, “I’m having a bath.”
Q3.2 Tick one sentence that is punctuated correctly.
☐ “I’m not sure,” said Rosa, “We could ask Dad.”
☐ “I’m not sure,” said Rosa. “We could ask Dad.”
☐ “I’m not sure,” said Rosa, “we could ask Dad.”
☐ “I’m not sure.” said Rosa. “We could ask Dad.”
Show answer
Rosa says two separate sentences, so there is a full stop after the reporting clause and the second sentence starts with a capital letter: “I’m not sure,” said Rosa. “We could ask Dad.”
Q3.3 Explain why the word you after said Mr Clarke does not start with a capital letter.
“If you finish early,” said Mr Clarke, “you can read your book.”
Show answer
The speech is one sentence split by the reporting clause. “you can read your book” continues that sentence, so it is not the start of a new sentence.
Q3.4 Rewrite this dialogue, setting it out correctly.
“Have you seen my cat?” asked Mrs Novak. “No, I haven’t,” replied Sam. “I’ll help you look.”
Show answer
A new speaker needs a new line (a new paragraph). Both of Sam’s sentences stay together on his line:
“Have you seen my cat?” asked Mrs Novak.
“No, I haven’t,” replied Sam. “I’ll help you look.”
Q3.5 Punctuate this sentence correctly.
my bag is too heavy groaned Pavel can you carry it
Show answer
Pavel says a statement and then a separate question, so the reporting clause ends with a full stop and the question starts with a capital letter: “My bag is too heavy,” groaned Pavel. “Can you carry it?” (“My bag is too heavy!” groaned Pavel. “Can you carry it?” is also accepted. A comma after Pavel is not accepted, because the question is a new sentence.)
Q3.6 This dialogue has three mistakes in punctuation or capital letters. Rewrite it correctly.
“Let’s build a den” said Aisha.
“Where shall we start”? asked Ben.
Aisha replied, “by the big oak tree.”
Show answer
1. A comma is needed inside the inverted commas after den. 2. The question mark belongs to Ben’s words, so it goes inside. 3. Speech starts with a capital letter, so by becomes By.
“Let’s build a den,” said Aisha.
“Where shall we start?” asked Ben.
Aisha replied, “By the big oak tree.”
Q3.7 Tick one sentence that is punctuated correctly.
☐ “If we leave now,” said Dad. “We will catch the train.”
☐ “If we leave now,” said Dad, “we will catch the train.”
☐ “If we leave now.” said Dad, “we will catch the train.”
☐ “If we leave now,” said Dad “we will catch the train.”
Show answer
If we leave now is not a full sentence on its own, so the speech is one sentence split by said Dad, with commas on both sides of the reporting clause: “If we leave now,” said Dad, “we will catch the train.”
Q3.8 Read this passage. Which word should begin a new line? Explain why.
“Is anyone there?” called Zainab. “Only me,” answered her brother.
Show answer
A new line starts whenever a new person speaks. Her brother is a new speaker, so the new line starts at “Only (“Only me,” answered her brother.)
Q3.9 Insert the missing inverted commas.
Hold the door, called Joe, because my hands are full.
Show answer
The commas are already there. The spoken sentence is split by called Joe and carries on with a lower-case because: “Hold the door,” called Joe, “because my hands are full.”
Q3.10 Tick one sentence that contains a punctuation error.
☐ “Come quickly!” shouted Femi.
☐ “Are you ready?” asked Coach Patel.
☐ Mia said, “The cake is in the oven.”
☐ “I think,” said Leo, “That it will snow.”
Show answer
In split speech that continues the same sentence, the second part starts with a lower-case letter (“I think,” said Leo, “that it will snow.”). The error is in: “I think,” said Leo, “That it will snow.”
Level 4 – 11+ selective: direct and reported speech, and tricky cases
The style of selective independent-school papers: change direct speech to reported speech and back, decide where a question mark belongs and explain the rules in your own words.
✏️ WORKED EXAMPLE: Rewrite this direct speech as reported speech.
“I am going to the museum tomorrow,” said Omar.
Step 1: remove the inverted commas and join the words to the reporting clause, usually with that: Omar said that …
Step 2: change the pronoun to fit the reporter’s point of view: Omar’s I becomes he.
Step 3: move the tense back and change time words if the report is made later: am going becomes was going and tomorrow becomes the next day: Omar said that he was going to the museum the next day.
Common mistake: keeping Omar’s exact words in reported speech (Omar said that I am going to the museum tomorrow). Reported speech never uses inverted commas or the speaker’s own I. If the report is made on the same day, Omar said that he is going to the museum tomorrow is also accepted.
Your turn
Q4.1 Rewrite this reported speech as direct speech.
Gemma said that she was thirsty.
Show answer
Add inverted commas round Gemma’s own words, changing she to I and was to am: “I am thirsty,” said Gemma. (“I’m thirsty,” said Gemma. and Gemma said, “I am thirsty.” are also accepted.)
Q4.2 Rewrite this direct speech as reported speech.
“Can I play outside?” asked Ravi.
Show answer
A reported question uses if or whether, ends with a full stop and has no inverted commas. I becomes he and can becomes could: Ravi asked if he could play outside. (Ravi asked whether he could play outside. is also accepted.)
Q4.3 Explain why the question mark is inside the inverted commas in sentence A but outside them in sentence B.
A: Leon asked, “Is the shop open?”
B: Did Leon say, “The shop is open”?
Show answer
In A, Leon’s spoken words are a question, so the question mark belongs to the speech. In B, Leon’s words are a statement; the whole sentence is the question, so the question mark goes outside.
Q4.4 Punctuate this sentence correctly.
hurry up said Mum the taxi is here
Show answer
Mum says two separate sentences, so there is a full stop after the reporting clause and the second sentence starts with a capital letter: “Hurry up,” said Mum. “The taxi is here.” (“Hurry up!” said Mum. “The taxi is here.” is also accepted.)
Q4.5 Explain why the comma goes inside the inverted commas in this sentence.
“I found it,” said Theo.
Show answer
The comma takes the place of the full stop that would end Theo’s spoken sentence. It belongs to the spoken words, so it goes inside the inverted commas.
Q4.6 Rewrite this direct speech as reported speech, as if you were reporting it a week later.
“We will finish the painting today,” said the twins.
Show answer
We becomes they, will becomes would and today becomes that day: The twins said that they would finish the painting that day. (The same sentence with the word that after said left out is also accepted.)
Q4.7 Tick one sentence that correctly reports what Mei said.
“I lost my scarf yesterday,” Mei told me.
☐ Mei told me that I had lost my scarf the day before.
☐ Mei told me that she had lost her scarf the day before.
☐ Mei told me, “She had lost her scarf the day before.”
☐ Mei told me that she lost my scarf yesterday.
Show answer
I and my become she and her (it was Mei’s scarf), there are no inverted commas, and the time is moved back: Mei told me that she had lost her scarf the day before.
Q4.8 Rewrite this reported question as direct speech.
Ama asked her brother where he had put the scissors.
Show answer
Ama’s own words are a question to her brother, so he becomes you and the question mark goes inside the inverted commas: “Where have you put the scissors?” Ama asked her brother. (“Where did you put the scissors?” and Ama asked her brother, “Where have you put the scissors?” are also accepted.)
Q4.9 Explain why there are no inverted commas in sentence B.
A: Callum said, “I will help.”
B: Callum said that he would help.
Show answer
Sentence B is reported speech. It tells us what Callum said without using his exact words, so inverted commas are not needed.
Q4.10 This dialogue has three mistakes in punctuation or capital letters, and one layout mistake. Rewrite it correctly.
“Have you packed your swimming kit” asked Dad? “not yet,” replied Kiran, “I’ll do it now.”
Show answer
1. The question mark belongs to Dad’s question, so it goes inside the inverted commas, and the sentence ends with a full stop after Dad. 2. Not needs a capital letter because it starts the speech. 3. Kiran says two sentences, so there is a full stop, not a comma, after replied Kiran. Layout: Kiran is a new speaker, so he starts a new line.
“Have you packed your swimming kit?” asked Dad.
“Not yet,” replied Kiran. “I’ll do it now.”