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. |
She said that it was my last chance. He said, ‘Good morning.’ She said that she would be late. (not And I say to all the people of this great country... |
Tell |
used with direct and indirect speech after tell, we usually say who is told, i.e., tell someone 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) |
She told me that she would be late. She told me that it was my last chance. (not Tom’s mother told him to clean his room. Alice said a naughty word... (not ‘I’ll tell you tomorrow.’ (not I’ll tell you ittomorrow.) ‘I don’t want to tell youagain to get your homework done.’ |
Talk |
There is not very much difference between speak and talk. Talk is the more usual word to refer to conversational exchangesand informal communication. |
When she walked into the room everybody stopped talking. |
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. |
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. |