Say or Tell?
SAY Comes before or after direct speech
Say (that)…
Collocations with that: say your prayers, say yes no, say a few words, say
something
Certain objects can ‘say’ things: the clock says, the letter says, the
newspaper says, the label says
Phrases with say: people say _____, let’s just say (that)
_____, have sth to say, say = suppose: “Say you were in my shoes, what would you do?” |
TELL We tell somebody facts, opinions and information
The main structures with tell: tell sb about sth, tell sb to do sth, tell sb (that),
tell sb + what/ how where, etc. + noun phrase
Phrases with tell: tell the twins apart, tell a mile off, tell tales, tell the
truth, tell a lie, tell time
Notice: we also use give meaning ‘express’ in common
phrases: give orders/some advice/an opinion/the details/information/directions |
TALK ABOUT or SPEAK ABOUT?
To talk about something means the same as to discuss something. We can also use
talk about meaning tell stories in less formal contexts.
We use speak about in more formal contexts = (to give a talk
on). |
1. Fill in each space with a suitable form of a verb.
You can use some verbs more than once.
say tell speak talk
1) Tom _____ “This is great!”
2) She _____ that she might be late.
3) He _____ us the answer.
4) I’m going to _____ something to the neighbours about the noise.
5) She _____ us about her travels around North America.
6) _____ us about Africa.
7) I’m going to _____ something about my trip to Africa.
8) The clock _____ it’s five past ten.
9) The newspaper _____ there’s been a hijacking.
10) People _____ he’s a bit mad.
11) _____ me what you need.
12) It’s impossible to _____ the twins apart.
13) _____ we do this, what would happen?
14) Have you anything to _____ in your defence?
15) She _____ them that she might be late.
16) The policeman _____ me to go with him.
17) I _____ you the reason why I was out late.
18) I’ve never _____ a lie in my whole life.
19) Let’s _____ about the problem.
20) She often _____ about her days as a student.
21) The lecturer is going to _____ about the modern novel.
22) Let’s just _____ he doesn’t always _____ the truth.
23) The label _____ it was produced in America.
24) He _____ me to close the door.
25) “Close the door,” he _____.
26) If you have something to _____, say it now.
27) _____ her how to do it.
28) The letter _____ we’ve won first prize.
29) I didn’t do it – somebody’s been _____ tales.
30) She _____ goodbye to her parents.
PERSUADE or CONVINCE?
Persuade means make someone decide to do something, especially by
asking them repeatedly or telling them reasons why they should do it.
Convince means make somebody feel certain that something is true. |
DENY, REFUSE, REJECT, TURN DOWN
Deny something means say it is not true.
To refuse + to-infinitive or refuse + noun means to say you will not do
something that someone asks you to do.
Reject is stronger than refuse. It means to refuse to accept, consider or use
something.
Turn sb / sth down we can use this phrasal verb instead of refuse and reject. |
2. Fill in each space with a suitable form of a verb.
You can use some verbs more than once.
say tell speak talk discuss persuade give convince deny turn down
1)
A: People _____ that he’s been all round the world.
B: Yes, he’s always _____ about his travels.
2)
A: He was _____ us another one of his stories.
B: Does he ever _____ the truth?
3)
A: Rose is brilliant at _____ jokes.
B: I hope we can _____ her to tell us some tonight.
4)
A: Why don’t you ask the doctor to _____ you a second opinion?
B: Yes, I ought to _____ to someone else about it.
5)
A: Doctor, they _____ it’s urgent.
B: Very well, _____ them I’m on my way.
6)
A: They _____ the Prime Minister will be _____ about a new law in Parliament today.
B: I wonder what he’s going to _____ this time.
7)
A: You _____ me you were at the pub last night.
B: What are you _____ about?
8)
A: I believe what he _____.
B: I don’t. I am _____ he’s been _____ lies.
9)
A: You _____ him some good advice about his interview.
B: But he didn’t get the job. I wonder why he was _______?
10)
A: You can’t _____ that you _____ Kate my secret.
B: No, I didn’t. But it seems I can’t _____ you. Maybe we can _____ this later.
11) Her evidence _____ the court.
12) We finally _____ them of our innocence.
13) I finally _____ her to go out for a drink.
14) He refused to come in spite of our efforts to _____ him.
15) She _____ to help us.
16) They _____ her brother’s offer of help.
17) She _____ a second piece of cake.
18) He _____ all the rumours.
19) She _____ that she had stolen the money.
20) She _____ the children permission to play in the garden.
3. Read the text below and add the word which best fits each space.
talk, give, say, turn down, persuade, tell, discuss, deny, refuse,
convince
A Friend in Need
I can’t say when I first realised that Billy was in
trouble with the police. He had often _____(1) to me about his problems and, as his
friend, I had _____(2) him the best advice I could. I also _____(3) I’d let him come and
stay with me but he _____(4) my offer. I tried to _____(5) him to stop spending so much
money at his club and to sit down and _____(6) his problems with me but he _____(7) me to
mind my own business.
It was difficult to _____(8) to him after this, but I was _____(9) he was getting into
deeper trouble all the time. He had often _____(10) having anything to do with the local
gangs. But then the police came round and asked me to _____(11) them information about
Billy and I couldn’t _____(12), though I avoided _____(13) them anything that might do
him harm. They asked me to _____(14) them more details, but I managed to convince them
that I had _____(15) the truth.
KEYS:
1. 1. said/says; 2. said; 3. told; 4. say; 5. told; 6. Tell; 7.
say; 8. says; 9. says; 10. say; 11. Tell; 12. tell; 13. Say; 14. say; 15. told; 16. told;
17. told; 18. told; 19. talk; 20. talked;
21. speak; 22. say, tell; 23. says; 24. told; 25. said; 26. say;
27. Tell; 28. says; 29. telling; 30. said.
2. 1. A. say, B. talking; 2. A. telling, B. tell; 3. A. telling,
B. persuade; 4. A. give, B. talk; 5. A. said/say, B. tell; 6. A. say, speaking/talking, B.
say; 7. A. told, B. talking; 8. A. said/says, B. convinced, telling; 9. A. gave, B. turned
down;
10. A. deny, told, B. convince, discuss; 11. convinced; 12. convinced; 13. persuaded; 14.
persuade; 15. refused; 16. rejected/turned down; 17. refused/turned down; 18. denied; 19.
denied; 20. refused/denied.
3. 1. talked; 2. given; 3. said; 4. turned down/refused; 5.
persuade/tell; 6. discuss; 7. told; 8. talk; 9. convinced; 10. denied; 11. give; 12.
refuse; 13. telling; 14. give; 15. told.
Compiled by Elena Kisunko, Moscow, School No. 651,
Elena Muslanova, Moscow, Lyceum No. 1537
|