Say vs Tell vs Speak vs Talk — Who, What and Where

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Why These Verbs Are Tricky

English has four common verbs of communication — say, tell, speak, talk. They often translate the same way, but their grammar and usage are different. Let’s make it simple.

Say — Focus on Words

We use say when the focus is on the words themselves, not the listener.

• She said “hello.”
• He said that he was tired.
• What did she say?

👉 Form: say + something.
❌ She said me hello.
✔️ She said hello to me.

Tell — Focus on the Listener

We use tell when the focus is on giving information to someone.

• She told me the truth.
• He told us a story.
• Don’t tell anyone!

👉 Form: tell + someone + something.
❌ She told to me.
✔️ She told me.

Speak — Formal, Ability, Languages

We use speak in more formal situations, or when talking about languages.

• May I speak to the manager?
• He spoke about his new project.
• She speaks English and German.

Talk — Informal Conversation

We use talk for friendly, informal communication.

• They talked for hours on the phone.
• Can we talk later?
• She talked to her friend about the problem.

Quick Table

Mini Quiz

1. She ___ me she was busy.
   → told
2. What did he ___ about the exam?
   → say
3. We ___ on the phone yesterday.
   → talked
4. He can ___ three languages.
   → speak

Common Mistakes

❌ He said me the answer.
✔️ He told me the answer.

❌ She told to her friend.
✔️ She told her friend.

❌ Can we speak now? (too formal for friends)
✔️ Can we talk now?

FAQ

Q: Is “say” always without a person?
A: Mostly yes. Use say something to someone if you mention the listener.

Q: Is “speak” more formal than “talk”?
A: Yes. Speak = formal/professional, talk = casual.

Q: Can I use “tell” without an object?
A: Usually no. You tell someone something.

Final Tips

• Say → words.
• Tell → person + info.
• Speak → formal, languages.
• Talk → informal chat.

Dowiedz się więcej

Czytaj także:
👉 Why Students Fail in Listening — It’s Not What You Think
👉 English Learning Page

© Author’s concept by Tymur Levitin — founder, director, and lead teacher of Szkoła językowa Levitin (Start Language School by Tymur Levitin).