Commas, inverted commas and punctuating speech

Commas are the punctuation mark children use most and get wrong most. This guide covers commas in lists, between adjectives and to make meaning clear, then the rules for punctuating direct speech, which is mostly about getting commas in the right place too.

Commas in lists

A comma separates the items in a list of three or more. In British English, there's usually no comma before the final and or or, and that's the convention the SATs follow.

We bought apples, pears and plums.
She packed a torch with spare batteries, a map of the forest and a flask of hot chocolate.

Single-word lists are easy. Lists of longer phrases are where children lose track, because they can't see where one item ends. Underlining each item before adding any commas solves that.

Commas between adjectives

When two or more adjectives describe a noun equally, they are separated by commas: a long, winding road. Not every pair of adjectives needs one, though. The test is whether you could put and between them, or swap their order, and still have natural English.

a cold, dark nighta cold and dark night works, so the comma is needed.
a big red busa big and red bus sounds wrong, so no comma.
a long, winding, roadNever put a comma between the last adjective and the noun.

Commas that change the meaning

A comma can change what a sentence means, which is why the SATs ask children to explain the difference between two versions. The classic examples are funny on purpose, and that helps them stick.

Let's eat, Grandma.We're inviting Grandma to eat.
Let's eat Grandma.We're planning to eat Grandma.
Most of the time, travellers worry about their luggage.Travellers usually worry.
Most of the time travellers worry about their luggage.Most people who travel in time worry.

Children can often see the difference but struggle to explain it in words, so the SATs answer needs practice too. Reading both versions aloud, pausing at the comma, then describing who is doing what in each, gives them a script to follow.

Inverted commas

Inverted commas (speech marks) go around the exact words a person says. Only the spoken words go inside. Reported speech, where we describe what someone said without quoting them, never uses inverted commas.

“Close the door,” said Mum.Direct speech: Mum's exact words.
Mum told us to close the door.Reported speech: no inverted commas.

Punctuating direct speech

These are the rules the SATs expect:

The spoken words start with a capital letter.
The punctuation that belongs to the spoken words goes inside the closing inverted commas.
If the sentence continues after the speech, use a comma instead of a full stop: “We're late,” she said.
Question marks and exclamation marks stay as they are, inside the inverted commas: “Are you ready?” asked Tom.
If the reporting clause comes first, it is followed by a comma: Tom asked, “Are you ready?”
Start a new line each time a new person speaks.

“Are you ready?” asked Tom.No capital on asked: the sentence carries on.
Tom asked, “Are you ready?”

How these are tested in the SATs

Insert the missing commas in a list, between adjectives or after an opening clause.
Explain how the comma changes the meaning of a pair of sentences.
Insert the inverted commas in a sentence of direct speech.
Tick the correctly punctuated sentence from several options, often differing only in where a comma or capital letter goes.
Rewrite reported speech as direct speech, or the other way round.

Common mistakes

“We're late”, she said.The comma belongs inside the inverted commas.
“Are you ready?” Asked Tom.asked continues the sentence, so no capital.
We bought apples, pears, and plums.In the SATs, no comma before the final and.

Putting a comma between every adjective, or between the last adjective and its noun.
Using inverted commas for reported speech.
Forgetting to close the inverted commas, especially when speech runs across two lines.
Splitting a reporting clause with a full stop: “Come here.” She said.

Teaching ideas

The and test

Give pairs of adjectives on cards and a noun. Children try reading them with and in between, decide whether the pair needs a comma, and justify their choice. The test turns a fuzzy rule into a reliable one.

Draw the meaning

For comma-meaning pairs, children draw a quick sketch of each version. The picture of a family eating Grandma tends to be remembered long after the lesson.

Speech bubbles to speech marks

Start with a comic strip. Pupils copy what's in each speech bubble, then put inverted commas where the bubble used to be, and add a reporting clause. The inverted commas literally replace the bubble, which helps children see that only the spoken words go inside.

Punctuation in colour

When modelling speech, write the punctuation inside the inverted commas in a different colour. Children quickly notice that the comma, question mark or exclamation mark always sits inside, before the closing mark.

Try it: five quick questions

SATs-style questions to use as a starter or a quick check. Tap to see each answer.

Add commas: We need flour eggs butter and sugar.
Show answer
We need flour, eggs, butter and sugar.
Does a shiny new bike need a comma between the adjectives?
Show answer
No: a shiny and new bike doesn't sound natural, so no comma.
Punctuate: where are you going asked Dad
Show answer
“Where are you going?” asked Dad.
Is this direct or reported speech? Sam said that he was hungry.
Show answer
Reported speech, so no inverted commas.
Explain the difference: Let's eat, Grandma. and Let's eat Grandma.
Show answer
The first invites Grandma to eat; the second suggests eating Grandma.