SAY

1. to say something using spoken or written words;

Its getting late, she said.
You should write to the bank and say you need more time.
Hes been saying for weeks that hes going to repair that plug.
Say what \ where \ why The chairman started by saying why he had
called the meeting.
Say hello \ goodbye \ sorry He came to say goodbye.
Say a word \ a few words about Id like to say a few words about our weekend
programme.
2. to use particular words in order to express what you mean or think;
ary wasnt sure how to say that she didnt want to see him any more.
!ont let me keep you is "ust a polite way of saying that you want someone to lea#e.
How do you say $ood morning in Italian%
. to say something in an indirect way! used especially when you are asking someone
what the real meaning of a statement is;
&hat do you think the writer is saying in this story%
're you saying Im fat%
(o, what youre saying, r. )resident, is that ta*es may ha#e to rise.
". to say that you ha#e got some information by hearing people say
something $ especially something surprising or shocking %
they say They say that her husband is in prison for
killing a man.
people say )eople say he is confined to a wheelchair
because the surgeon made a mistake, but I
dont belie#e it.
so they say
used at the end of a statement, or in
reply to a statement, to show that
youre not sure whether it is true
The nightclub burnt down and shots were
heard, or so they say.
1
say speak tell talk
&. to say something to a number of people! especially in public! in order to gi#e them
information or make clear your opinions;
)resident said in an inter#iew that he had no intention of resigning.
It says here that the tunnel will be open at the end of +,,-.
'. to pronounce something $ spoken (nglish %
How do you say this word%
Im not sure if I can say this name . its #ery unusual.
)A*+
1. to say things to someone! especially in a con#ersation;
talk to sb. !ont talk to strangers.
I cant hear anyone when you all talk at
once.
You shouldnt talk with your mouth full.
talk about /ic finds it easy to talk about his feelings.
I ha#ent the faintest idea what youre talking
about.
2. to talk to someone about a particular sub,ect! especially about a serious matter that
needs to be settled;
talk to sb. I cant make a decision until I#e talked to
my wife.
talk about If someone brings me a problem, we "ust sit
down and 0uietly talk about it.
. to ha#e a con#ersation;
talk to sb. Its been nice talking to you.
talk about. &e talked about what we did when we were
children.
talk politics \ sport etc. &hene#er we meet /eronica we always
seem to end up talking politics.
". to make an informal speech about a particular sub,ect to a group of people for
example at a meeting or on the radio;
gi#e sb. a talk r. 1ar#is agreed to gi#e a talk to the
$ardening 2lub.
gi#e a talk on something I remember gi#ing her a radio talk on the
&omens o#ement in 3orth 'merica.
gi#e sb. a talk !r. 2ookson ga#e us a #ery interesting talk
2
on her recent #isit to 1apan.
&. to talk too much about other people-s pri#ate li#es and beha#iour! usually in a
disappro#ing way;
&e mustnt be seen together in public again. )eople are starting to talk.
'. to talk to yourself;
I think hes cra4y . he doesnt reali4e that he talks to himself all the time.
&hen 5ettys concentrating on a difficult piece of work she has this habit of talking to
herself.
)(**
1. to give someone facts or information by speaking to them or writing to them;
tell sb.
&e were told that the manager wanted to
see us in his office immediately.
tell sb. what \ where \ who 1ust be honest and tell me how much you
think I weigh.
tell sb. sth. I want you to tell me all the details.
tell sb. about (he said that she had already told them
about.
2. to tell sb. a story;
&e used to gather round 6 listen to him telling wonderful stories.
You said you would tell me a story if I was good.
3. to say that a book, notice etc. provides people with information about something;
tell sb. how \ what \ where
This leaflet tells you how to a#oid catching
'I!(
tell sb. The two dials in the middle tell you the
airspeed 6 altitude.
". to tell someone in authority $ especially a parent or a teacher % about something
wrong that someone has done;
- Youre not allowed in the classroom during the lunch hour.- Im telling.
tell on
)lease, dont tell on me. um thinks I#e
been staying at my friends house.
5. to tell someone something that should be kept secret;
tell sb. where \ what \ who
He couldnt tell me where he got this
information.
3
tell sb. about !ont tell anyone about this.
tell
used especially by children
Youd better not tell, or youll be in big
trouble.
6. to tell sb. that they must do sth;
tell sb.
&ait here, he told the children.
tell sb. to do sth. I thought I told you to be in bed, by +7
oclock.
tell sb. what to do Im in charge here, 6 Im not going to ha#e
anyone telling me what to do.
S.(A+
1. to use your #oice to produce words;
(he opened her mouth to speak.
He has a throat infection that prevents him from speaking.
speak to sb.
1ohn8 1ohn8 (peak to me. 're
you all right%
2. to be able to speak a particular language;
2an you speak $erman%
&ell ha#e to find someone who speaks 9nglish.
. to talk to someone about a particular sub,ect especially about a serious matter that
needs to be settled;
speak to sb. about I intend to speak to the manager
about the way I ha#e been
treated.
Ha#e you spoken to ichael
about your problem%
". to make a formal speech;
If we ha#e a company dinner well ha#e to ha#e someone to speak.
(peaking to 2ongress, the )resident appealed for co:operation in tackling the budget
deficit.

(/(012S(S
3ill in the gaps with say! tell! speak! talk in the correct form4
1. Dont believe anything he .
2. I intend to to the manager about the way I have been treated.
. !e were our childhoods and reali"ed we both went to the same school.
#. Id $ust like to a few words about schedule.
%. Dont me youve forgotten my birthday again.
&. I have Im sorry ' what more do you want.
(. Dianas been invited to at the annual conference.
). I cant stand it when they politics.
*. !hen I was young my father me stories about the war.
1+. ,ould you a little louder please-
11. . ;se negati#e. / me how to behave in public.
12. 0om says were not allowed to to strangers.
1. It in the paper that there were no survivors.
1#. 1t 12.++ tomorrow 0rs. 2lliot will be about the best way to cultivate roses.
1%. 3he baby is $ust learning to .
1&. It in the instructions how much you should use-
1(. 3he sports club rules that sports shoes must be worn in the gym at all times.
1). 1ll the hostages were that they had to lie on the floor.
1*. Im going to if you dont stop messing around.
2+. I dont think he should be , it might upset him too much.
21. 4ally would like to to you for a minute.
22. If you promise not to on me Ill put the money back where I found it.
5
.art 2 (/.0(SS256S
72)8 SAY! S.(A+! )(**! )A*+
SAY
1. say yes \ no 2an I go, um% <h please, say yes.
2. say so : !o you think they are happy%
: I wouldnt say so
. say your piece
say what you want to say
<k, you#e said your piece . now shut up.
". say a prayer \
say your prayers
to say a fi5ed set of words that form
a prayer
&e could hear the priest at the altar saying a
prayer.
&hen I was a child, I had to say my prayers e#ery
night.
&. say no more
used to show that you understand
what someone means, although it has
not been said directly
: I saw him lea#ing her flat at =.>7 this morning.
: (ay no more8
'. say the word
used to tell someone they have only
to ask you 6 you will do what they want
1ust say the word and Ill get rid of her.
9. say what you like
used when giving an opinion that
you are sure is correct, even if a
person you are talking to might
disagree with you
(ay what you like, shes a #ery good mother.
S.(A+
1. speak in fa#our of \ against
support or oppose
<nly one ) spoke against the bill.
2. speaking as a parent \
teacher \ democrat etc.
(peaking as a parent Id like to see more discipline
in school.
. speak well \ badly \ ill of
say good or bad things about
someone
Its wrong to speak ill of the dead.
". speak highly of
praise someone
'll the former patients speak highly of !r.(eal.
&. speak your mind
tell people e5actly what you think
even, if it offends them
(he is #ery direct, the kind of a person who
belie#es in speaking their mind.
6
'. generally \ personally \
technically \ roughly \ broadly
speaking
$enerally speaking, rural schools pro#ide a better
en#ironment for the students.
)(**
1. tell a ,oke \ secret \ lie )at told them a "oke about two flies walking on the
ceiling and e#erybody laughed.
2an I tell you a secret%
&hene#er she told a lie, she felt guilty afterwards.
2. tell the truth If !an is telling the truth, the others are in danger.
. tell sb. straight
tell someone the true facts or your
true feelings
I told her straight I wasnt coming.
". tell the time 2an you tell me the time%
&. tell sb. one-s name Tell me your name and address.
'. tell sb. the way 2ould you tell me the 0uickest way to anchester%
9. tell sb. so
used when you have warned
someone about a possible danger that
has now happened and they have
ignored your warning
I told you so.
:. tell one-s fortune (he paid +77 ? to ha#e her fortune told.
;. tell the difference argarine and butter% I cant tell the difference.
1<. tell sth. from sth. 'mateurs may be unable to tell fake from the
original painting.
)A*+
1. talk sense
to give sensible opinions
about things
7e is a little old8fashioned but he talks a lot of sense.
2. talk rubbish \
nonsense \ crab
used to tell someone that
what they are saying is silly
and completely wrong
8 0r. 4mith, our office is too cold.
8 Dont talk such rubbish. I suppose you re looking for an
e5cuse to avoid work.
!
3ill in the gaps with say! tell! speak! talk in the correct form4
1. ,an you what time the film starts-
2. I promise to the truth, the whole truth 6 nothing but the truth.
. 9uth her prayers 6 went to bed.
#. 4ometimes its hard to one twin from another.
%. 4top such rubbish. Its incredible.
&. Ill put our complaints to the management ' Im not afraid to my mind.
(. what you like, Im not going to change my viewpoint.
). Do you think he is trustworthy- I wouldnt so.
*. ,an you my fortune-
1+. I suppose hes really pleased with his new secretary he always highly of her skills.
11. :ersonally I cant agree with you.
12. sense. !e are wasting time.
1. 4he good morning as he came into the office.
1#. 7e used to his children a story every night.
1%. 0r. 4mith in favour of ta5 reform yesterday.
1&. the word and Ill do away with him.
1(. I guess Ill him straight that Im not going to marry him.
1). ;ou have your piece. <ow Id like to my mind.
(x.2. 3ill in the gaps with say! tell! speak! talk in the correct form4
A =3his sugar8free chocolate is delicious 1% 4andra.
I cant 2%the difference between this chocolate
and the one containing sugar. =I like it, too %
0ark. =I wish someone had "% me about it sooner.
I could have lost so much weight> =3o &% you the
truth, I dont think you should lose weight, '%
4andra. =I like you $ust the way you are, she 9%
him.
= =I saw :aul in town today, 4teve 1% ?ouise.
=I 2% good afternoon to him and I noticed that
hed had his hair cut. I should have % something
about it, but it looked awful, so I didnt mention it.
=;ou did the right thing, ?ouise "% him. Its better
"
to &% ... nothing than to '% a lie.

1 1t 1lisons wedding reception, her father stood up and
1% the guests that he would like to 2% a few
words. 7e started to % a story about when 1lison
was young. 1lison felt embarrassed, but she didnt
"% so. 3hen, her father &% the guests some
$okes, which everyone found very funny. @inally, he
'% a prayer for the happy couple.
#
>?@ .art 1 (x. 1.
1. says (. speak 1. said 1*. tell
2. speak ). talk 1#. talking 2+. told
. talking *. told 1%. speak 21. speak
#. say 1+. speak 1&. Does it say 22. tell
%. tell 11. Dont tell 1(. say
&. said 12. talk 1). told

.art 2 (x. 1.
1. tell (. say 1. said
2. tell ). say 1#. tell
. said *. tell 1%. spoke
#. tell 1+. speaks 1&. 4ay
%. talking 11. speaking 1(. tell
&. speak 12. 3alk 1). 4aid, speak
(x. 2.
A 1. said = 1. told 1 1. told
2. tell 2. said 2. say
. said . said . tell
#. told #. told #. say
%. tell %. say %. told
&. said &. tell &. said
(. told

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