1. TALK, SPEAK, SAY, TELL:Reported speech- Note: This is called “reported
speech because we are reporting what someone else has said.
Tell needs a subject – He told me.Me is the subject
Said doesn‟t need a subject, but it needs some more information like a sentence:
He said [he was going home] – “He was going home” is a complete sentence.
SPEAK = TALK (same construction)
He is speaking to John= He is talking to John
SPEAK = TELL (different construction)
Speak to him now = Tell him now ; Speak to as many people as you can = Tell
as many people as you can
SAY = TELL (different construction)
Say „you want to marry me‟ = Tell me „you want to marry me‟
SAY & TELL- (different construction)
He is saying something toJohn ;He is telling John something (remember –
tell needs a subject. John is the subject)
Talk as a noun - to give a talk = to give an informal speech
TALK, SPEAK, SAY, TELL in the imperative
o SPEAK is often used in the imperative with an adverb or adverbial phrase
o Speak quietly.
o Speak as loud as you can
o TALK is rarely used in the imperative, but can carry a negative message
o Talk to him if you must, (but I don‟t want you to)
o Don‟t talk (=Say nothing)
o Talk among yourselves – talk together in your group
o TELL is often used in the imperative for messages
o Tell him I need some money
o Tell him I will be back soon
o Tell him I‟ve gone to the shops
o SAY is used in the imperative for wanting something said to you
o Say something (to me) please (=speak to me )
o Say something nice (= tell me something nice)
o Say yes/Say no (= tell me you want/don't want to)

2. Let's = Let us
Let‟s speak to him now = Let‟s talk to him now
Let‟s tell him now
Let‟s say something to him now.
TALK, SPEAK, SAY, TELL + about
talk about something. = speak about something
tell someone about something
say something to someone about s.t.
TALK, SPEAK, SAY, TELL + about
John was saying something to Peter about us when we knocked on the door.
(the recipient of the info is Peter)
John was talking/speakingabout us when we knocked on the door. (the recipient
of the info is unknown)
John was telling Peter about us when we knocked on the door. (the recipient of
the info is Peter)
John was talking/speakingabout us when we knocked on the door. (the recipient
of the info is unknown)
TALK, SPEAK, SAY, TELL used in phrasal verbs - different in meaning
to talk down to someone – They have a lower status than you
to talk things over – have a conversation – discuss things
to tell someone off – speak in an angry way
to speak up for someone – support someone by speaking
to speak up – speak louder
to speak for someone – speak instead of someone when they can‟t speak
to speak out about something – to express your opinion
1. Speak up I can‟t hear what you are saying
2. He told finally spoke out about the problem which was bothering him.
3. Jennifer found that her new boss had a bad habit of talking down to her.
4. The teachertold the student off for breaking the window with his football.
5. As Ellie was too shy to say what she wanted, her brother spoke for her.
6. When Jeremy was accused of stealing, Joshua was the only one to speak up for
him.
7. It was such a shock, we haven't decided what to do next. We will talk things
over before we come to the decision.