Say – tell – speak – talk
· say a) if you say something, you use your voice to produce words. It often follows direct speech. Ex.: “ Come round this side of me”, said Daniel. b) if you want to mention the person being spoken to, you can do this after the preposition “to” Ex.: I said to him, “I’d never do anything like that”. c) note that say is usually used with an object if the object is a very general word such as something, anything or nothing. Ex.: I said something wrong. · tell a) you usually use tell rather than say when you are mentioning the person being spoken to as well as the speaker Ex.: I told him that I would be right back. a) there are a few objects that can be used as the object of tell without mentioning the person being spoken to. These include “truth”, “lie” and story. Ex.: I don’t know whether you are telling the truth or not. · speak/talk a) when you speak you use your voice to produce words. Ex.: Uncle Sam went speaking in his hoarse voice. b) we usually speak when one person is addressing the other, and the second is listening rather than joining in. Ex.: Several parents spoke to the school administration expressing their concern. c) we usually talk when two people or more are having a discussion Ex.: A family were finishing their lunch and talking loudly. d) we speak/talk TO smb ABOUT smth Ex.: We talked to the lecturer about the project dates.
1. We … good-bye to our new friends and left. 2. The customs officer … the passengers to fill in the declaration. 3. To … the truth, I don't care what she …. 4. He … her, "He'll join us as soon as he is off duty." 5. Who is Jane …? 6. If the boss phones, … him I'll be in a quarter of an hour. 7. She can't … the language properly. 8. If you want to visit a foreign country you should know what … and how to behave in a country with its own traditions and customs. 9. My elder sister is fond of … on the telephone. 10. Don't trust him. He has … a lie. 11. He likes … about his work. 12. Sorry, what did you …? 13. Has he … you everything? 14. Has she … anything at the interview? 15. He was … another fishing story. 15. My aunt wrote and … me all about it. 16. Johnny was … almost in a whisper. 17. What were you … about when I entered? 18. I’m planning to …to the manager about my promotion.
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