Vocabulary
Tell? Speak? Say?
Which of the following sentences are incorrect?
-
He said me that he was not feeling well.
-
I told him to go home.
-
He spoke, "I can't. I have to finish this report today."
-
I said that the report could wait.
-
He told, "No, I'll be fine. I'll stay and finish the report."
(Answer: the 1st, 3rd and the last sentence are incorrect)
Use "say" in these patterns:
He said,
"I'm not feeling well."
He said to
me that
he was not feeling well.
He said (that)
he was not feeling well.
Use "tell" in these
patterns:
He told me (that)
he was not feeling well.
I told him to
go home.
He told me about
his problem.
Use "speak" in these patterns:
He spoke to me about
his problem.
He spoke in
a small voice.
Also, we say:
tell a lie,
tell the truth,
tell a story
say a prayer,
say sorry
speak (a language), e.g.
speak English,
speak Japanese
Now try these questions:
1. "English is difficult!" Many students
.
2. I always
my students to try their best.
3. He is my best friend. I always
him about my problems.
4. She
her children to be quiet.
5. Please don't lie.
the truth.
6. He he was tired.
7. They
their boss that they wanted a raise.
8. The boss
to them that it was not possible to give them a raise this year.
9. Listen to me. I'm going to
you an interesting story.
10. I was surprised when my sister
me that she was getting a divorce.
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