SAY, TELL, and SPEAK

SAY
Uses :
1. used with direct and indirect speech.
example :
- She said that it was my last chance.
- He said , Good morning."

2. Say is most often used without a personal object.
example : She said that she would be late.

3. If we want to put a personal object after say, we use to.
example : And I say to all the people of this great country...

TELL
1. uses with direct and indirect speech

2. after tell, we usually say who is told, i.e.tell someone something .
example : She told me that she would be late.

3. only used to mean 'instruct' or 'inform'
example : She told me that it was my last chance.

4. Tell is used to tell someone to do something.
example : Tom's mother told him to clean his room.

5. Tell is not used before objects like a word, a name, a sentence, a phrase.
example : Alice said a naughty word...

6. We don't usually use it after tell to refer to a fact.
example : "I'll tell you tomorrow," (not: I'll tell you it tomorrow)

7. Tell someone again (repeat)
example : "I don't want to tell you again to get your homework done."

TALK
1. There is not very much difference between speak and talk.
example : When she walked into the room everybody stopped talking.

2. Talk is the more usual word to refer to conversational exchanges and informal communication.


SPEAK
1. is often used for one-way communication and for exchanges in more serious or formal situations.
example : I'll have to speak to that bay - he's getting very lazy.
After she had finished reading the latter, nobody spoke.

2. Speak is the usual word to refer to knowledge and use of languages.
example : She speaks three languages fluently.

SAY :
- say (speak)
- say (THINK)
- say (GIVE INFORMATION)
- say (EXPRESSION)
- say - so (STATEMENT)
- say -so (PERMISSION)
- say cheese
- not have a civil word to say about sb (somebody)
- it's fair to say
- need I say
- needless to say ---> something really no about this
- to say nothing of......
- you can say that again !
- You don't say ! ---> don't like to doing.
- have /a /some say in something . ( you participate in project)
- wave / say goodbye to something
- breathe / say a word.

TELL

- tell (SPEAK)
- tell (KNOW)
- tell (HAVE A EFFECT)
- tell on somebody ( INFORM)
- tell on somebody ( AFFECT BADLY)
- as / so far as I can tell----> from the information, the reason.
- tell a lie / lies.
- tell the truth
- tell tales ---> making story about something
- tell somebody's fortune
- tell it like it is ---> say what happen
- tell the difference ----> shape
- you never can tell -----> when we don't know
- (only) time will / can tell

TALK

- baby talk ---> when we play with baby
- back talk
- sweet-talk ---> I like you
- talk show
- talk back
- talk sth down (REDUCE)---> let finish this project
- talk somebody down (PREVENT) ---> I talk my friend to go to shopping this weekend.
- talk somebody down (PERSUADE)
- talk down to somebody
- talk somebody into something
- talk something out
- talk somebody out of something
- speak/talk the same language
- speak/talk of the devil
- talk/speak in riddles
-talk business/politics
-talk about........
- talk nonsense ---> something doesn't important
- give somebody something to talk about
- all talk (and no action) ----- > just talk no action

SPEAK

- speak (say words)
- speak (language)
- speak (formal talk)
- speak (SUGGEST)
- speak out/up
- speak up
- speak up for somebody / something
- actions speak louder than words
- speak / talk of the devil
- speak in somebody's favor
- speak /talk the same language
- speak for your self-----> to express your opinion
- talk/speak in riddles
- speak your mind
- none to speak of
- so to speak
- be on speaking terms
- speak too soon
- speak when you're spoken to ! (ngobrol)
- speak volumes ---> when there is something give many information / suppport me , this something very important.


Practice :

SAY SOMETHING
A. Do you know the difference between say, tell, talk , speak and discuss? Circle complete each sentence. Sometimes both verbs are possible.

1. He (said/told) me that he couldn't attend the meeting.
2. He (said/told) that he was sorry for his mistake.
3. We (talked/discussed) about the situation in Japan.
4. We (talked/ discussed) the new marketing plan.
5. Did she (speak/ talk) to you about the reorganization plans?
6. Did she (speak/ talk) about the cost of the project ?

The answer:
1. told
2. said
3. talked
4. discussed
5. speak
6. speak

B. Complete these sentences with the correct form of say, tell, speak, talk or discussed.
1. Where is she ? She.....she would be here half an hour ago.
2. I phoned your office and ......to your assistant.
3. Do you have a free moment to ....... the Zurich deal ?
4. I'll ......speak for about half an hour and then answer your questions.
5. I .....him that he would have to wait for an answer.
6. I'm sorry, I don't understand. What are you .......... about ?

the answer
1. said
2. spoke
3. discuss
4. speak / say
5. told
6. talking / speaking

1. You didn't ....... me the truth, did you ? No , I didn't.
2. They have been ........ for hours on the phone! They are real chatterboxes!
3. Don't ...... me. I'm going to guess.
4. Does he ....... English fluently ?
5. Let's ....... about our holidays.
6. You mustn't ......them about your bad marks.
7. Stop ....... and giggling, naughty girls!
8. You mustn't ....... to strangers in the street.
9. Story ..... is quite interesting, isn't it ?

The answer
1. tell
2. talking
3. tell
4. speak
5. talk / speak
6. tell
7. talking
8. speak / talk
9. telling