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From: Miss Elaine Eos <Misc@*your-shoes*PlayNaked.com>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: Re: Using of speak or tell
Organization: Very little. Maybe some on weekends.
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Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 04:05:00 GMT
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In article <440b2ff9$0$18368$626a54ce@news.free.fr>,
8-70738046 <Poulay> wrote:
> I have evil with the use of the verbs speak and tell.
> I confuse both
> Thanks
"Evil" connotes a more sinister willfulness than what you experience.
You probably have "a hard time" deciding whether to use "speak" or
"tell" in a sentence.
"To speak" is what you do with your body -- it's your act of making
words with your mouth.
"Tell" is what you say (the words you speak) to another person.
If you are saying words to an indeterminate person or people, you also
"speak to" them,.
You typically "speak to" a person or group "about" or "on" a particular
topic (sometimes implied.)
You "tell" someone a specific bit of information.
* I love to hear Fred speak; he has a great voice!
* Tomorrow, I will speak to the congregation about tithing.
* I think you should speak to Jim about that.
* I think you should speak to Fred.
(Also: I think you should have a word with Fred.)
In both: there's an implied "about <some subject>".
* You need to tell Fred how to get to our house from here.
* Tomorrow, I will tell the congregation my thoughts about tithing.
* Tell Jim I'm almost home.
* Speak to Jim about the mess he makes at home.
I hope that helps!
--
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