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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #87821: Tell / Say / Speak / Talk
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Frequent mistakes [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Placement test beginners: Check your spelling - Past simple or present perfect - Although / in spite of / despite - Differences between Like and As - Again/ back - FOR and its use - Do or Make? - Do-don't-does-doesn't
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Tell / Say / Speak / Talk


    Tell       = to give information to somebody by speaking or writing

    tell someone something: 'I told him about it.'

    tell something to somebody: 'He told the news to his co-worker.

    'Please, tell me your name'

    = we usually say who is told (personal object) and what they were told

    'I told him...', 'They told us...', 'We told them...'

    'He told me ( that ) he was hungry.'

    'Mary told me to eat dinner.'

                'Our parents told us about it.'

                 

    Say       = Never has a person as the object.  You say something or say something to somebody.

    Tell me what he said to you.

    I want to say something on this subject.

    = The construction 'He said that' is very common, but the 'that' is often omitted in informal writing and speech.

    She said (that) she worked in the big company.

                He said (that) he was ill.

    Sally said that John would be late to the party.


    Both ' SAY ' and ' TELL ' can be used in direct or indirect speech.

    DIRECT SPEECH:    I said:' I'm hungry'. / I told him: 'I'm hungry'.

    INDIRECT SPEECH: I said that I was hungry'. / I told him that I was hungry.


    Speak    = We often use it for one-way communication, and also for more serious or formal situations.

                 I need to speak to you after class.

     The king of this country spoke to the audience about the war.

    = When we want to refer to a person's ability to speak a language.

                 He speaks two languages.

                 Do you speak English?


    Talk       = It is used about a general topic. It cannot be used to report specific indirect speech.

                This verb usually refers to two or more people exchanging or sharing information.

                We talked about my big project.

                Let's talk about it!


    Both ' SPEAK ' and ' TALK' have similar meanings.

    There is no  big difference between them.

    They can often be used in the same situation.

    I spoke to her about the meeting.

     I talked to her about the meeting.

    ('SPEAK' has a more serious or formal tone.)





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    English exercise "Tell / Say / Speak / Talk" created by greg100 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from greg100]
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    1. Your father me that you are good at speaking French.

    2. me, do you love your parents?

    3. He always me some interesting stories about his cats.

    4. Yesterday, we were sitting, drinking coffee and about the weather.

    5. Can we tomorrow? I have to go to work now.

    6. You should to your parents about that.

    7. I don't want to you again and again to do your homework.

    8. English is all over the world.

    9. I don't have anything more to . Leave me alone!

    10. They never stop . It drives me crazy.

    11. The president about peace and friendship between our countries.

    12. The girls love to about clothes.

    13. Speak up! My grandmother can't hear what you're . She is a little deaf.

    14. Who is ? - This is Oliver Novak speaking.

    15. Listen to me. I would like to you a joke.

    16. My parents don't always the same language.

    17. I'm confused by his behaviour. That's why I to his parents yesterday.

    18. She "goodbye" to him and went away.

    19. I never believe anything they . They are often dishonest.

    20. He probably knows five languages. Does he Chinese?










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