Заметил, что многие путают эти слова.
Say – просто “сказать”. “Say something.”. “He left without saying a word.” “Say ‘ah’.”
Tell – передать информацию. “Could you tell me where the post-office is?” “Tell us a joke please.” Заметьте, что после “tell” идет дополнение, например “me”, “us”.
Speak and talk – почти одно и то же. “Speak” более официально. “I’d like to speak to you about our budget for next year” – это перед официальным выступлением. “I’d like to talk with you about our budget for next year” – приглашение к неформальной дискуссии. Разница в идиоматическом использовании слов, например “He speaks three languages” или “all he talks about is sports”.
Вот вам небольшое упражнение на speak/talk/say/tell:
________ the truth I have never seen this man before.
- To say
- To tell
- To speak
- To talk
First of all I’d like a few words about my background.
- to say
- to tell
- to speak
- to talk
My Grandfather was very clever; he could _________ several foreign languages.
- say
- tell
- speak
- talk
John ___________ good-bye and hurriedly left the room.
- said
- told
- spoke
- talked
I want you ______________ more slowly; I can’t understand you.
- to say
- to tell
- to speak
- to talk
Could you ______________ me where the nearest post-office is? I am sorry. I am a stranger here.
- say
- tell
- speak
- talk
I don’t like David; he mainly ______________ sport.
- says
- tells
- speaks
- talks
Sorry __________, but your train left just a minute ago.
- to say
- to tell
- to speak
- to talk
I like the way Paul _____________ jokes; he does it very well.
- says
- tells
- speaks
- talks
What the heart thinks the tongue _________ .
- says
- tells
- speaks
- talks
Who did you ___________ over the phone with late last night? – It was the wrong number.
- say
- tell
- speak
- talk
He is a good friend that ____________ well of us to others.
- says
- tells
- speaks
- talks
Bruce has ____________ us the truth, hasn’t he?
- said
- told
- spoke
- talked
George ___________ his friend that he had fallen off a ladder.
- said
- told
- spoke
- talked
Have you ___________ anybody about your decision?
- said
- told
- spoke
- talked