Home/Vocabulary exercises/Word choice and word formation/Which verb: tell, speak, talk, or say? 1

TELL / SPEAK / SAY / TALK 1 (ESL)

level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
Tell, speak, say, and talk are four of the most commonly confused verbs in English. This first exercise practices the most important distinctions between them.


READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Choose the correct word — say, tell, talk, or speak — to complete each sentence.

1. I didn't hear you. What did you ___________?
2. George and I ___________ for three hours.
3. I'm going to ________ to him about this.
4. I'm going to ________ him the truth.
5. She always knows the right thing to ________.
6. Don't ________ to your grandfather in that tone!
7. I ________ her that I loved her.
8. She and I ________ all night.
9. Hi, this is Robert. We ________ on the phone last Tuesday.
10. ___________ up! I can't hear you!
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Communication Conversation Questions 1. How many languages can you speak? Which do you find easiest or hardest?
2. Do you prefer to talk in person, on the phone, or by message? Why?
3. Is there something you find difficult to talk about? Why?
4. Have you ever had to speak in public? How did it go?
5. Who do you talk to most during a typical day?
6. Is there something important you have been meaning to say to someone?
MORE LIKE THIS Tell/speak/say/talk 2
Life/live/living 1
Finish or end? 1
As or like? 1
Lay or lie? 1
Lay or lie? 2
Grammar review SAY — report words; person spoken to is optional, introduced with to. She said she was tired. / He said goodbye to me.

TELL — always needs a direct object (the person told). Tell me the truth. / She told him to be quiet.

SPEAK — more formal; used for languages and one-directional communication. Do you speak French? / She spoke to the manager.

TALK — implies two-way conversation; more informal than speak. We talked for hours. / Can I talk to you?
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