Explanation
Exercises

A2 Vocabulary — Speaking verbs

Useful verbs to talk about speaking: how to say, tell, speak, talk and more in everyday English.

A2 Pre-intermediate Communication Speaking verbs

1. Say & tell

Both verbs talk about words, but the grammar is different.

  • say + something / say to someone She said “hello”. He said to me that he was tired.
  • tell + someone + something / tell + someone + to do He told me a funny story. The doctor told her to rest.

❗ After tell we normally mention the person (tell me / tell your friend).

2. Speak & talk

  • Both verbs mean “have a conversation”. I need to talk to you. We spoke for an hour.
  • speak is more formal and we use it with languages. She speaks English and French.
  • We often say speak to / talk to someone.

3. Ask, ask for, request

  • ask + someone + a question / to do He asked her what her name was. She asked me to help her.
  • ask for + noun = ask to receive something. I asked for a glass of water.
  • request is more formal than ask for. The manager requested a meeting.

4. Beg

beg is used when we ask in a very emotional or desperate way.

  • beg (someone) for + noun He begged for help.
  • beg (someone) to + verb I begged my brother to lend me some money.

5. Answer & reply

  • answer a question / someone = give information back. I had to answer many difficult questions. He didn’t answer me.
  • reply (to) = respond to a message, email, letter, comment, etc. She hasn’t replied to my email yet.

6. Loud & quiet speaking

  • yell / shout = speak very loudly. Please don’t yell at me. We had to shout because of the noise.
  • scream = make a very loud, high sound, usually because of fear or pain. The children screamed when they saw the spider.
  • whisper = speak very quietly. He whispered so he wouldn’t wake the baby.

7. Complain & suggest

  • complain (about) = say that we are unhappy with something. The guests complained about the noise.
  • suggest + noun / -ing form = give an idea or plan. He suggested a new restaurant. She suggested going by train.

Try to notice which prepositions or structures follow each verb (for example, reply to, ask for, talk to). Learning the whole phrase will help you sound more natural.

Exercises:
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say, tell, speak, talk, etc.

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
We usually “hello”, “sorry” or “thank you”.
Correct: We say “hello / sorry / thank you”.
2
Please me the truth.
Correct: Tell me the truth. (Verb + person + information.)
3
She can three languages: English, French and German.
Correct: She can speak three languages.
4
Use when you have an informal conversation, for example: “Let’s ____ about your weekend.”
Correct: We talk when we have an informal conversation.
5
In class you can your teacher questions when you don’t understand.
Correct: You ask your teacher questions.
6
Use the pattern when your sentence has a person and the information, for example: “Ask your teacher a question.”
Correct: ask someone something = “Ask your teacher a question.” (person + thing)
7
Use the pattern when you want a person to do an action, for example: “Ask your brother to help you.”
Correct: ask someone to do something = “Ask your brother to help you.” (person + to + verb)
8
Use the pattern (ask + for + noun) when you want an object, for example: “She asked for a glass of water.”
Correct: ask for something = “ask for help / ask for a coffee”.
9
In a formal email you might write: “We would like to more information about your course.”
Correct: request something is a formal way to ask for something.
10
Use when you ask in a very strong and emotional way, for example: “Please, I ____ you, don’t go!”
Correct: beg = ask in a very strong, emotional way.
11
Use the pattern when you strongly ask for an object, for example: “He ____ money on the street.”
Correct: beg for something = “beg for money / beg for food”.
12
Use the pattern when you very strongly want a person to do an action, for example: “She ____ her friend to stay.”
Correct: beg someone to do something = “beg her to stay / beg him to help”.

say, tell, speak, talk, etc.

Match the sentences with the words
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Sentences

Words

say, tell, speak, talk, etc.

say, tell, speak, talk, etc.