Say, tell, talk, speak
Uses Examples
Say  used with direct and indirect
speech
 Say is most often used without
a personal object.
 If we want to put a personal
object after say, we use to.
Tell  used with direct and indirect
speech
 after tell, we usually say who
is told, i.e., tellsomeone
something
 only used to mean ‘instruct’ or
‘inform’
 Tell is used to tellsomeone to
do something
 Tell is not used before objects
like a word, a name, a
sentence, a phrase.
 We do not usually
use itafter tell to refer to a fact.
 tell someone again (repeat)
Talk  There is not very much
difference
between speakand talk.
 Talk is the more usual word to
refer to conversational
exchanges and informal
communication.
Speak  is often used for one-way
communication and for
exchanges in more serious or
formal situations.
 Speak is the usual word to
refer to knowledge and use of
languages.
 She said that it was my last
chance.
 He said, ‘Good morning.’
 She said that she would be late.
(not She said me...)
 And I say to all the people of this
great country...
 She told me that she would be
late.
 She told me that it was my last
chance.
 (not He told them, ‘Good
morning.’)
 Tom’s mother told him to clean his
room.
 Alice said a naughty
word...(not Alice told a naughty
word...)
 ‘I’ll tell you tomorrow.’ (not I’ll tell
you ittomorrow.)
 I don’t want to tell you again to
get your homework done.’
 When she walked into the room
everybody stopped talking.
 I’ll have to speak to that boy --
he’s getting very lazy.
 After she had finished reading the
letter, nobody spoke.
 She speaks three languages
fluently.
 SAY - TELL - SPEAK - TALK .
• Use ‘say’ for direct quotations: She said, ‘I am very busy.’ Use ‘say’ for indirect
quotations when the person to whom the words are spoken is not mentioned: She said
that she was very busy.
• Use ‘tell’ for indirect quotations when the person to whom the words are spoken is
mentioned: She told me that she was very busy.
• ‘Speak’ is used with languages, and in formal settings: He speaks three languages
fluently.
• ‘Talk’ refers to a conversation and is often followed by an indirect object with ‘TO’: After
the lecture, coffee was served and people began to talk to one another.
1) Brazilians _____________ Portuguese.
2) Yesterday the teacher _______ me that our children _______ too much.
3) __________ louder, please. I can’t hear what you __________ .
4) The Prime Minister ____________ on television last night.
5) Chimpanzees cannot ___________ but everybody __________ they are very
intelligent.
6) What will you _________ when you __________ to Mr Reed tomorrow?
7) [on the telephone]… ‘May I __________ to Mrs Brown please?’
8) The policeman ___________ me to show him my driving license.
9) Don’t ___________ during the film. If you want to __________ to me, wait until it’s over.
10) His throat disease has left him unable to __________ .
11) If you promise not to _________ anyone, I’ll __________ you a secret.
12) She always __________ the children a story before they go to bed.
13) The little boy doesn’t know how to _________ the time yet.
14) If you _______ so, I suppose it’s true. I don’t think you would ________ me a lie.
15) He left without __________ goodbye
16) If you could ___________ a good word for him, he might get the job.
17) She _______ that she can’t ________ the difference between butter and margarine.
18) To _________ the truth, I haven’t been there long.
19) Please ________ no more about it.
20) They asked the prisoner several questions, but he _________ nothing.