Confusing Verbs (Say / Tell / Speak / Talk) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are reminding a colleague that wearing shorts to work is against company policy by quoting the employee handbook and other official documents. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence in your conversation.
1 “You should read the employee handbook carefully. It clearly ______ that casual wear is restricted in the office.”
(A) says
(B) tells
(C) speaks
(D) talks
2 “Look at paragraph three on page 12; it specifically ______ we cannot wear shorts to work.”
(A) tells
(B) talks
(C) says us
(D) says
3 “The document doesn’t ______ us exactly what kind of shoes to wear, though.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) speak
(D) talk
4 “Even the large warning sign in the main lobby ______ ‘Professional Attire Required’.”
(A) tells
(B) speaks
(C) says
(D) saying
5 “My colleague replied: ‘I had no idea! Who ______ you about this strict rule?'”
(A) told
(B) said
(C) spoke
(D) talked
6 “If we are still confused, we should probably ______ to the HR manager to clarify this policy.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) talk
(D) telling
7 “The official email from the CEO ______ the exact same thing about appropriate summer clothing.”
(A) speaks
(B) tells
(C) tell
(D) says
8 “Let’s ______ about this confusing regulation during our lunch break.”
(A) talk
(B) say
(C) tell
(D) speak
9 “We should hurry inside; the digital clock on the wall ______ it’s already 8:55 AM.”
(A) tells
(B) speaks
(C) says
(D) talks
10 “If you read your employment contract, it clearly ______ that you must follow the safety and dress codes.”
(A) tells
(B) speaks
(C) says
(D) saying
11 “I have to ______ that this rule feels a bit outdated for such a hot summer.”
(A) tell
(B) say
(C) talk
(D) speak
12 “Yesterday, the department head ______ everyone to dress formally for the upcoming client meeting.”
(A) said
(B) spoke
(C) told
(D) talked
13 “The HR director is going to ______ to the whole department regarding these policies tomorrow morning.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) talk
(D) speak
14 “Look at the employee portal; the latest update ______ ‘No shorts allowed under any circumstances’.”
(A) tells
(B) says
(C) speaks
(D) talks
15 “You shouldn’t ______ bad things about the company policy out loud in the breakroom.”
(A) tell
(B) speak
(C) talk
(D) say
16 “Does the weekly newsletter ______ anything about implementing Casual Fridays?”
(A) tell
(B) say
(C) speak
(D) talk
17 “Some people are ______ that management might finally change the dress code next year.”
(A) telling
(B) talking
(C) saying
(D) speaking
18 “Could you please ______ the new intern about the professional attire guidelines?”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) speak
(D) talk
19 “I can’t remember exactly what the second paragraph of the handbook ______.”
(A) says
(B) tells
(C) speaks
(D) talks
20 “Well, actions ______ louder than words, so let’s just dress properly and show our professionalism.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) talk
(D) speak
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): In English, inanimate objects that convey written information (books, handbooks, letters) “say” things. They communicate content without a physical voice.
- Error Analysis: (B) tells (Common Mistake) requires a personal object (e.g., tells us). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor) Books cannot physically speak. (D) talks (Structural Error).
2 (D) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): Reporting the content of a specific paragraph. It says + (that) + clause.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake) missing the listener object. (C) says us (Strong Distractor) You cannot “say us”. It must be “says to us”. (B) talks (Structural Error).
3 (B) tell
- Why it is correct (The Key): The verb is immediately followed by the personal object “us”. The document gives information to us. Tell + someone + something.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake) “Say us” is grammatically invalid. (C) speak (Structural Error). (D) talk (Strong Distractor).
4 (C) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): Signs, labels, and notices “say” what is written on them.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake) Needs an object (tells us). (B) speaks (Strong Distractor) Signs don’t have vocal cords. (D) saying (Structural Error).
5 (A) told
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sentence requires a verb that takes a direct personal object (“you”). Tell (told) + someone + about something.
- Error Analysis: (B) said (Common Mistake) You cannot “say someone”. (C) spoke (Strong Distractor) “Spoke to you” would be correct, but just “spoke you” is invalid. (D) talked (Structural Error).
6 (C) talk
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Talk to someone” is used for engaging in a two-way conversation to figure something out.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake) “Say to the manager” means just uttering words at them, not having a discussion. (B) tell (Structural Error) You cannot “tell to” someone. (D) telling (Structural Error) wrong form.
7 (D) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): An email is a written document; therefore, it “says” something.
- Error Analysis: (B) tells (Common Mistake) missing the object. (A) speaks (Strong Distractor). (C) tell (Structural Error) subject-verb disagreement.
8 (A) talk
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Talk about [topic]” is the standard phrase for an informal discussion.
- Error Analysis: (B) say (Common Mistake) You do not “say about” something. (C) tell (Structural Error). (D) speak (Strong Distractor) “Speak about” is grammatically correct but implies a formal presentation rather than a casual lunch break chat.
9 (C) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): In English, clocks, watches, and dials “say” the time because they display information.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake) While humans “tell the time,” the clock itself “says” the time. (B) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
10 (C) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): Contracts and legal documents “say” what the rules are.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake). (B) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) saying (Structural Error).
11 (B) say
- Why it is correct (The Key): “I have to say” is a fixed conversational phrase used to introduce a personal opinion or admission.
- Error Analysis: (A) tell (Common Mistake) requires an object. (C) talk (Structural Error). (D) speak (Strong Distractor).
12 (C) told
- Why it is correct (The Key): Reporting an order or instruction. Tell + someone (everyone) + to do something.
- Error Analysis: (A) said (Common Mistake) You cannot “say everyone to dress”. (B) spoke (Strong Distractor). (D) talked (Structural Error).
13 (D) speak
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Speak to [an audience]” is used when a person in authority delivers a formal address or presentation.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake). (B) tell (Structural Error) “Tell to” is incorrect. (C) talk (Strong Distractor) “Talk to” is possible but less formal than “speak to” for a director addressing a whole department.
14 (B) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): A digital update on a portal is written text, so it “says” the rule.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
15 (D) say
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Say bad things” focuses on the specific words/content being uttered out loud.
- Error Analysis: (A) tell (Common Mistake) needs a personal object. (B) speak (Strong Distractor). (C) talk (Structural Error) “Talk bad things” is not standard English.
16 (B) say
- Why it is correct (The Key): A newsletter is a printed or digital document, so it “says” things.
- Error Analysis: (A) tell (Common Mistake). (C) speak (Strong Distractor). (D) talk (Structural Error).
17 (C) saying
- Why it is correct (The Key): “People are saying that…” is the standard phrase for reporting rumors or general gossip.
- Error Analysis: (A) telling (Common Mistake) needs an object (“telling us that”). (B) talking (Strong Distractor) You cannot “talk that”. (D) speaking (Structural Error).
18 (B) tell
- Why it is correct (The Key): Passing information to a specific person. Tell + someone (the intern) + about something.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake) You cannot “say the new intern”. (C) speak (Structural Error). (D) talk (Strong Distractor) You cannot “talk the new intern”.
19 (A) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): A paragraph in a book contains written words, so we ask what it “says”.
- Error Analysis: (B) tells (Common Mistake). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
20 (D) speak
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Actions speak louder than words” is a famous, fixed English idiom. It means what you do is more important than what you say.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake). (B) tell (Structural Error). (C) talk (Strong Distractor).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 Inanimate Objects “SAY” Things:
- In English, objects that contain text, data, or information use the verb SAY. They do not speak or talk because they do not have vocal cords.
- Common subjects that “say” things: * Books, manuals, handbooks, contracts, documents. (The handbook says…)
- Signs, notices, labels, billboards. (The sign says STOP.)
- Clocks, watches, meters. (My watch says 3:00 PM.)
- Emails, texts, letters, websites. (The email says we have a meeting.)
2 When can an object “TELL”?
- An inanimate object can use TELL only if you include a personal object right after it.
- Incorrect: The book tells that you must not wear shorts.
- Correct: The book tells us that you must not wear shorts.
- Correct: The book says that you must not wear shorts.
3 SAY vs. TELL with People:
- SAY: Focuses on the words. Never put a person immediately after it without “to”. (He said that… / He said to me that…)
- TELL: Focuses on giving information. Always put a person immediately after it. (He told me that… / He told the intern to…)
4 Important Idioms:
- I have to say = A phrase to introduce an honest opinion.
- Actions speak louder than words = What you do matters more than what you say.