Say, tell, speak, talk

Say

to say (nothing follows, direct speech),’to express something using words’, g. ‘I’m leaving,’ she said.
to say something (e.g. yes/no, a few words, good-bye) to (!) smb.

e.g. What did she say to him?

to say that … (indirect speech), e.g. She said (that) she was leaving.

Set expressions, phr v: not to say a word, the letter/the newspaper says, have sth to say, it goes without saying, to say nothing of…, they say, I must say

Tell

to tell smb (that), ‘to give information to someone’, g. She told me (that) she was leaving.
to tell smb about smth, e.g. He told me about his new job.
to tell (smb) smth, e.g. a story, a joke
to tell smb to V1 (order), e.g. Mom told me to clean up my room.

Set expressions, phr v: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a few things apart, tell the difference between…, tell smth from smth, tell a mile off*, tell tales**, tell smb off***, tell smb’s fortune, tell the time, tell the way, tell a secret

* ‘to see or recognize someone or something very easily’

**’to sneak, to inform someone about something bad that someone else has done’ (used mainly by children).

*** ‘to criticize someone angrily for doing something wrong’

Talk

to talk to/with smb about smth, ‘to communicate, to discuss’, e.g. I talked to my sister about our childhood and we laughed a lot.
to talk, ‘to use words to communicate’

Can their baby talk yet?

Set expressions, phr v: talk back, talk down to sb, talk sb into sth/out of sth, talk sense/nonsense, talk shop*, talk (or speak) the same language as (!)

* ‘to talk about your job with those you work with when not at work’

Speak

to speak to/with smb about smth, ‘to communicate, to discuss, to have a conversation’ (with is used mainly in US English), e.g. There was a long pause before she spoke again.
to speak, ‘have a telephone conversation’, e.g. ‘Can I speak to Dan, please?’
to speak a language, e.g. to speak English
to speak loudly/in a loud voice/quietly/in a low voice
to speak, ‘to deliver a speech in a formal context’, e.g. The company director will be speaking at the meeting.

Set expressions, phr v: generally/strictly/frankly speaking, speak for itself, speak for yourself, speaking of …, to be on speaking terms*, speak highly/well of smb, speak ill/badly of smb, speak one’s mind, speak up**

* ‘to know someone well enough to talk to them’

** ‘ to speak louder’

Test

Results

#1. She didn’t … a word about this to her parents.

#2. Why do you … ill of him? You hardly know him.

#3. They …, nothing venture, nothing have.

#4. Do you … Italian fluently?

#5. He left without … good-bye.

#6. Do you believe they can … your fortune?

#7. Could you … me the way to the pharmacy?

#8. Could you … up? We can’t here you well.

#9. They’re so alike. You can’t even … the difference.

#10. Why did you … her my secret?

Exercises

Sentences for translation