Activity 2: Week 2

to give information to somebody by speaking or writing tell someone something:
'I told him about it.'

tell something to somebody:
'He told the news to his co-worker.
 'Please, tell me your name'

= we usually say who is told (personal object) and what they were told 'I told him...', 'They told us...', 'We told them...' 'He told me ( that ) he was hungry.' 'Mary told me to eat dinner.' 'Our parents told us about it.'

Never has a person as the object.
You say something or say something to somebody.
Tell me what he said to you.
I want to say something on this subject. = The construction 'He said that' is very common, but the 'that' is often omitted in informal writing and speech.
She said (that) she worked in the big company.
He said (that) he was ill.
Sally said that John would be late to the party.

Both ' SAY ' and ' TELL ' can be used in direct or indirect speech.

DIRECT SPEECH: I said:' I'm hungry'. / I told him: 'I'm hungry'.
INDIRECT SPEECH: I said that I was hungry'. / I told him that I was hungry.

 

We often use it for one-way communication, and also for more serious or formal situations.
I need to speak to you after class.
The king of this country spoke to the audience about the war.

 = When we want to refer to a person's ability to speak a language.
He speaks two languages.
Do you speak English?

 It is used about a general topic. It cannot be used to report specific indirect speech. This verb usually refers to two or more people exchanging or sharing information.
We talked about my big project.
Let's talk about it!

Both ' SPEAK ' and ' TALK' have similar meanings. There is no big difference between them. They can often be used in the same situation.
I spoke to her about the meeting.
I talked to her about the meeting. ('SPEAK' has a more serious or formal tone.)

COMPLETE THIS SENTENCES AND SEND THEM TO MY E-MAIL.

1. Your father ____me that you are good at speaking French.
2._____ me, do you love your parents?
3. He always ____me some interesting stories about his cats.
4. Yesterday, we were sitting, drinking coffee and-_____ about the weather.
5. Can we____ tomorrow? I have to go to work now.
6. You should____ to your parents about that.
7. I don't want to______ you again and again to do your homework.
8. English is_____ all over the world.
9. I don't have anything more to____ . Leave me alone!
10. They never stop ____. It drives me crazy.
11. The president____ about peace and friendship between our countries.
12. The girls love to____ about clothes.
13. Speak up! My grandmother can't hear what you're _____. She is a little deaf.
14. Who is____ ? - This is Oliver Novak speaking.
15. Listen to me. I would like to____ you a joke.
16. My parents don't always_____ the same language.
17. I'm confused by his behavior. That's why I _____to his parents yesterday.
18. She ____'goodbye' to him and went away.
19. I never believe anything they ____. They are often dishonest.
20. He probably knows five languages. Does he____ Chinese