speak vs. talk vs. say vs. tell
Дата публикации: Mar 03, 2016 6:4:2 PM
Speak, talk, say, tell
To speak (to, about, with).
To speak is mostly about the fact of speech but not about its content.
It is also used when we specify the language we use for communication.
In case a person is making a report at the meeting/sitting. For example:
The President refused to speak to the waiting journalists.
I saw her in the street but we didn’t speak.
How many languages do you speak?
To talk (to, about, with).
To talk is closer to the Russian meaning “to discuss”, nevertheless it is similar to the verb to speak.
The difference lies in the style. To speak is more formal or neutral, whereas to talk is more colloquial. (it is correct to say – “stop talking!” rather than “stop speaking!”)
Examples:
Who did you talk to?
We talked on the phone for over an hour.
When they start talking it's hard to stop them.
What are you talking about?
To say (that, to).
To say is accurately translated into Russian as "сказать", to express sb’s thought aloud.
To say is often used to introduce Direct speech in the phrases like "he said that..." or "No, never, - said Troy".
Examples:
‘That was marvellous’ said Daniel.
Не says he wants to come with us.
Did he say that?
Did you say that?
Who said that?
Please say a word on that.
To tell.
To tell means "to narrate", "to share information", "to announce smth".
It is followed by a direct or indirect object. For example, "I told him my name".
Other examples:
What did I tell you?
He told the news to everybody he saw
‘I’m ready to go now,’ he told her.
If to tell is followed by an infinitive it means to order/to request smth.
She told me to call her back.
He told me not to make my point.
Also, to tell can be used with the following word combinations:
- To tell the truth
- To tell a lie
- To tell a joke
Practice:
1. They look so alike it's difficult to tell the difference between them.
2. First think then speak.
3. Come on, tell your mind. I want your honest opinion.
4. Someone said, 'Let's go!'
5. It's a surprise, so don't say a word.
6. They said there had been a mistake.
7. He's such a chatterbox! He is always talking non-stop.
8. They told a funny story about their trip.
9. She's terribly bossy. She loves to tell people what to do.
10. We speak in German at first, then English.
Translate into English:
- Не говори ему о наших планах. Don't tell him about our plans.
- Они ждали ответа, но она не сказала ни слова. They waited for an answer but she didn't say a word.
- Он сказал, что будет работать из дома. He said that he would work from home.
- Он сказал мне, что будет работать из дома. He told me that he would work from home.
- Вы говорите по-испански? Do you speak Spanish?
- Здравствуйте. Мне надо с вами поговорить. Hello, I need to talk to you.
- По правде говоря, я плохо помню эту историю. Frankly speaking, I remember the story not very clearly.
- Кто выступал на собрании? Who was speaking at the meeting?
- Ты знаешь, как сказать “Привет” по французски? Do you know how to say 'Hi' in French?
- Мы провели целый вечер, разговаривая о наших друзьях. We spent whole evening talking about our friends.
bossy adjective BrE /ˈbɒsi/ ; NAmE /ˈbɔːsi/ , /ˈbɑːsi/ (disapproving)(bossier, bossiest) - always telling people what to do
Do you treat all your guests in this bossy manner?
I found her to be rather bossy and patronizing.
We were told to move by a bossy woman in a green uniform.
tell the difference between (someone and someone else) (or something and something else)
to recognize the things that distinguish people or things.
I can't tell the difference between Billy and Bobby.
Sam can't tell the difference between Granny Smith and Royal Gala apples.
to tell
7. distinguish
[transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses or in the passive) to distinguish one thing or person from another
tell something It was hard to tell the difference between the two versions.
tell A from B Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?
tell A and B apart It's difficult to tell them apart.
tell which, what, etc… The kittens look exactly alike—how can you tell which is which?
talk discuss speak communicate debate consult
These words all mean to share news, information, ideas or feelings with another person or other people, especially by talking with them.
talk to speak in order to give information, express feelings or share ideas:We talked on the phone for over an hour.
discuss (rather formal) to talk and share ideas on a subject or problem with other people, especially in order to decide something:Have you discussed the problem with anyone?
You cannot say ‘discuss about something’: *I’m not prepared to discuss about this on the phone.
speak to talk to somebody about something; to have a conversation with somebody:I’ve spoken to the manager about it. ‘Can I speak to Susan?’ ‘Speaking.’ (= at the beginning of a telephone conversation)
talk or speak?
Speak can suggest a more formal level of communication than talk.
You speak to somebody about something to try to achieve a particular goal or to tell them to do something.
You talk to somebody in order to be friendly or to ask their advice:
Have you talked to your parents about the problems you’re having?
I’ve spoken to Ed about it and he’s promised not to let it happen again.
communicate (rather formal) to exchange information or ideas with somebody:
We only communicate by email. Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other.
Communicate is often used when the speaker wants to draw attention to the means of communication used.
debate to discuss something, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution:
Politicians will be debating the bill later this week.
consult (rather formal) to discuss something with somebody in order to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision:
You shouldn’t have done it without consulting me.
Patterns
to talk/discuss something/speak/communicate/debate/consult with somebody
to talk/speak to somebody
to talk/speak to somebody/consult somebody about something
to talk/speak of something
Say never has a person as the object. You say something or say something to somebody. Say is often used when you are giving somebody’s exact words:
‘Sit down’, she said.
Anne said, ‘I’m tired.’
Anne said (that) she was tired.
What did he say to you?
You cannot use ‘say about’, but say something about is correct:
I want to say something/a few words/a little about my family.
Say can also be used with a clause when the person you are talking to is not mentioned:
She didn’t say what she intended to do.
Tell usually has a person as the object and often has two objects:
Have you told him the news yet?
It is often used with ‘that’ clauses:
Anne told me (that) she was tired.
Tell is usually used when somebody is giving facts or information, often with what, where, etc:
Can you tell me when the movie starts?
(BUT:Can you give me some information about the school?)
Tell is also used when you are giving somebody instructions:
The doctor told me to stay in bed.
The doctor told me (that)
I had to stay in bed. OR The doctor said (that) I had to stay in bed.
NOT *The doctor said me to stay in bed.
order tell instruct direct command
These words all mean to use your position of authority to say to somebody that they must do something.
order to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employee.
‘Come here at once!’ she ordered.
tell to say to somebody that they must or should do something:
He was told to sit down and wait.
Don’t tell me what to do!
instruct (rather formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way:
The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.
direct (formal) to give an official order:
The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.
command to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
He commanded his men to retreat.
order or command?
Order is a more general word than command and can be used about anyone in a position of authority, such as a parent, teacher or government telling somebody to do something.
Command is slightly stronger than order and is the normal word to use about an army officer giving orders, or in any context where it is normal to give orders without any discussion about them. It is less likely to be used about a parent or teacher.
Patterns
to order/tell/instruct/direct/command somebody to do something
to order/instruct/direct/command that…
to do something as ordered/told/instructed/directed/commanded
speak vs. talk vs. say vs. tell
Вопросы:
1. С какими предлогами согласуется дополнение с глаголами speak, talk, say и tell?
2. Какой глагол нужен для перевода фразы: Они поссорились и теперь не разговаривают.?
Вопросы:
1. Какая смысловая разница между обращением: reply = ответить; answer = ответить; say = ответить?
2. Почему reply и say требуют предлог to, если после них следует дополнение/объект; а answer не требует предлога, если после него следует дополнение/объект?
Вопрос:
В чем смысловое отличие между фразами?
He talked to his boss.
He talked with his boss.
What happened to you?
What happened with you?
Задание:
1. Нарисуйте ядерные структуры для ситуаций с предлогом to/with.
2. Заполните пропуски to или with, учитывая данный русский перевод.
3. Как изменится смысл высказывания, если заменить предлог, т.е. если в предложение 1) He was talking … his son at the time — В тот момент он беседовал с сыном. при выполнении задания 2 был поставлен предлог to, то как изменится смысл высказывания, если поставить предлог with? (= метод антитезиса)
1) He was talking … his son at the time — В тот момент он беседовал с сыном.
2) You'll have to talk … him, there's no getting out of it — Ничего не поделаешь, придётся тебе с ним поговорить.
3) Do not pap us up, you are talking … adults — Не сюсюкайте, вы говорите со взрослыми.
4) The prisoner talked … the police — Арестованный раскололся и всё рассказал полиции.
5) If anything happens … the boy I will hold you accountable — Если что-нибудь случится с мальчиком, вы будете отвечать.
6) She didn't know what was happening … her — Она не знала, что с ней происходит.