Worksheet tasks
Keep exact words inside a direct quotation. In a report, preserve the speaker, message and important limits. Use extra paper if you need more space.
Task 1
The exact words are “My new sketchbook has forty pages,” said Anya. Write a direct quotation with the speaker named, then write a report for someone who did not hear her. Explain one wording change.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
Anya said, “My new sketchbook has forty pages.” Anya said that her new sketchbook had forty pages. My becomes her because someone else is reporting Anya’s book.
Require exact quoted words, Anya as owner/speaker, forty pages and a faithful report with explanation. Accept present has if the report clearly describes a still-current feature, and Anya’s instead of her.
Task 2
At the hall on Saturday, a performer says, “I will practise here tomorrow.” On Tuesday at school, report the planned place and day using their names. Explain what here and tomorrow referred to originally.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
The performer said that they would practise at the hall on Sunday. Here meant the hall; tomorrow meant the day after Saturday.
Require performer, hall and Sunday, with planned rather than proven action and both reference explanations. Accept an unambiguous named-person version instead of they.
Task 3
Tia says to Kofi, “You may use my spare folder.” Kofi immediately tells a teacher what Tia said. Write Kofi’s report using I, and explain who owns the folder and who may use it.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
Tia said that I could use her spare folder. Tia owns it, and Kofi may use it.
Require correct owner and permitted user, spare folder and permission rather than a demand. Kofi’s own first-person report uses I for Kofi and her for Tia. Do not reverse the roles.
Task 4
The source is “I might bring two board games,” said Hugo. A report says “Hugo promised to bring all his games.” Rewrite the report accurately and explain the certainty and amount you kept.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
Hugo said that he might bring two board games. Might keeps it uncertain; two is the amount, not all of his games.
Require Hugo, possible bringing and two board games. Both uncertainty and quantity should be explained. Do not treat finishing the task as proof the reported event occurred.
Task 5
The exact words are “The waterfall sounded like a room full of drums,” said a visitor. Write a direct quotation and a short reported sentence. Explain which form preserves the visitor’s distinctive comparison.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
The visitor said, “The waterfall sounded like a room full of drums.” The visitor compared the waterfall’s sound to a room full of drums. The direct quotation keeps the visitor’s exact wording of the distinctive drum comparison.
Require the exact quotation and a faithful report of sound, without adding unsupported feelings or facts. Explain why exact wording is useful here. Accept a fuller paraphrase that retains the comparison.
Task 6
Your only note says “The librarian invited the class to see the new display”. Write an accurate report. Explain why the note does not allow you to claim the librarian said the exact words “You must all visit today”.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
The librarian invited the class to see the new display. The note gives an invitation but no exact words; must and today add a requirement and date not supplied.
Require speaker, class and invitation retained. Explain the unknown wording and at least one unsupported addition. No real contact, recording or login is required.
Task 7
Create a two-turn fictional conversation about choosing an activity for a rainy lunchtime. Give the classmates different preferences. Then write two reported sentences and explain how you kept each preference with its speaker.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
Nora said, “I would like a card game.” Jem said, “I prefer drawing.” Nora said that she would like a card game. Jem said that he preferred drawing. I kept Nora with cards and Jem with drawing.
Require two actual invented turns, two faithful reports and correct attribution explained. Accept other suitable activities, names, pronouns and communication support. Use extra paper if needed.
Task 8
With an adult or your usual communication support, rehearse an invented club announcement containing an offer and a limit, such as lending an item until a certain day. Write the exact invented announcement, then report it for a short notice. Explain why the limit must remain.
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Adult guidance and one possible response
Invented announcement: “I can lend one chess set until Friday,” said Ravi. Report: Ravi said that he could lend one chess set until Friday. Friday limits the loan, so leaving it out changes what the borrower may expect.
Observe or read the actual announcement and report, with the same offer, quantity if supplied, return limit and speaker. Require an explanation of the limit. Do not require recording, eye contact, confidence or an actual loan; typed/dictated responses are equally acceptable.