Confusing Verbs (Say / Tell / Speak / Talk) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are reading a furious 1-star online review written by a customer who received a product that looks nothing like the advertisement. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “Do not buy this! The main advertisement ______ that this jacket is made of 100% genuine leather.”
(A) says
(B) tells
(C) speaks
(D) talks
2 “However, the tiny washing label inside the jacket clearly ______ ‘100% synthetic polyester’.”
(A) tells
(B) talks
(C) says
(D) speaks
3 “I am writing this review to ______ everyone the absolute truth about this dishonest company.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) speak
(D) talk
4 “The seller’s official website ______ that they offer a ‘no questions asked’ free return policy.”
(A) speaks
(B) tells
(C) talks
(D) says
5 “When I tried to ______ to the customer service agent about a refund, they were incredibly rude.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) speak
(D) saying
6 “The support agent actually ______ me that I had to pay $20 just for the return shipping!”
(A) said
(B) told
(C) spoke
(D) talked
7 “The promotional video on their page ______ that the battery lasts for 24 hours, which is a complete lie.”
(A) tells
(B) talks
(C) says
(D) speaks
8 “Now, let’s ______ about the terrible build quality of this so-called ‘premium’ product.”
(A) talk
(B) say
(C) tell
(D) speak
9 “The instruction manual inside the box ______ that assembly only takes five minutes.”
(A) says
(B) tells
(C) speaks
(D) talks
10 “In reality, it took me three hours! The beautiful pictures on the website really ______ a false story.”
(A) say
(B) speak
(C) tell
(D) talk
11 “I tried to ______ sense into the store manager over the phone, but he refused to listen.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) talk
(D) speak
12 “It goes without ______ that I will never purchase anything from this brand again.”
(A) saying
(B) telling
(C) speaking
(D) talking
13 “The front of the packaging ______ ‘Includes all accessories’, but my box was completely empty.”
(A) tells
(B) says
(C) speaks
(D) talks
14 “I am ______ you right now, save your hard-earned money and avoid this awful store.”
(A) saying
(B) speaking
(C) telling
(D) talking
15 “Don’t believe a single word this fraudulent company ______ in their TV commercials.”
(A) says
(B) tells
(C) speaks
(D) talks
16 “To ______ you the truth, I have never felt so scammed and disappointed in my entire life.”
(A) say
(B) talk
(C) speak
(D) tell
17 “The automated email reply I received yesterday ______ that someone would contact me immediately.”
(A) told
(B) spoke
(C) said
(D) talked
18 “They can apologize on this forum all they want, but actions ______ louder than words.”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) talk
(D) speak
19 “Does the official warranty document actually ______ anything about covering water damage?”
(A) say
(B) tell
(C) speak
(D) talk
20 “If the brochure ______ that the product is waterproof, it should not break in the light rain!”
(A) tells
(B) says
(C) speaks
(D) talks
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): Inanimate objects that display text (advertisements, books, signs) “say” things in English. They communicate written content.
- Error Analysis: (B) tells (Common Mistake) “Tells” requires a personal object (e.g., tells us). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor) Ads cannot physically speak. (D) talks (Structural Error).
2 (C) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): A clothing label contains written text, so it “says” what the material is.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake) missing a personal object. (B) talks (Structural Error). (D) speaks (Strong Distractor).
3 (B) tell
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Tell the truth” is a fixed collocation. Also, the verb is immediately followed by a personal object (“everyone”). Tell + someone + something.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake) You cannot “say everyone the truth”. (C) speak (Strong Distractor). (D) talk (Structural Error).
4 (D) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): A website displays text and information, so it “says” that they offer a policy.
- Error Analysis: (A) speaks (Strong Distractor). (B) tells (Common Mistake) requires an object (tells us). (C) talks (Structural Error).
5 (C) speak
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Speak to” (or “talk to”) an agent. “Speak to” is often preferred in formal customer service contexts when demanding assistance.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake) You cannot “say to” an agent to mean having a conversation. (B) tell (Structural Error). (D) saying (Structural Error) wrong form.
6 (B) told
- Why it is correct (The Key): Reporting information directed at a specific person. Tell + someone (me) + (that) + clause.
- Error Analysis: (A) said (Common Mistake) “Said me” is grammatically invalid. It must be “said to me”. (C) spoke (Strong Distractor). (D) talked (Structural Error).
7 (C) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): Even though a video has audio, when we refer to the claims made in media, text, or promotional materials, we use “says”.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake). (B) talks (Structural Error). (D) speaks (Strong Distractor).
8 (A) talk
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Talk about [topic]” is the standard phrasing for an interactive or detailed discussion about a subject.
- Error Analysis: (B) say (Common Mistake) You do not “say about” something. (C) tell (Structural Error). (D) speak (Strong Distractor) “Speak about” is too formal for an angry online review; “talk about” is natural.
9 (A) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): An instruction manual is a book/document. Documents “say” things.
- Error Analysis: (B) tells (Common Mistake) requires a personal object. (C) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
10 (C) tell
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Tell a story” is a strict, fixed collocation in the English language. Even when pictures do it metaphorically, it remains “tell a story”.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake). (B) speak (Strong Distractor). (D) talk (Structural Error).
11 (C) talk
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Talk sense into someone” is a common English idiom meaning to persuade someone to act reasonably through conversation.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake). (B) tell (Structural Error). (D) speak (Strong Distractor).
12 (A) saying
- Why it is correct (The Key): “It goes without saying” is an idiom meaning that a fact is entirely obvious and doesn’t need to be stated.
- Error Analysis: (B) telling (Common Mistake). (C) speaking (Strong Distractor). (D) talking (Structural Error).
13 (B) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): The packaging (the box) has text printed on it. Therefore, the packaging “says” something.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
14 (C) telling
- Why it is correct (The Key): “I am telling you” is a conversational phrase used to emphasize a point or give a strong warning to the listener.
- Error Analysis: (A) saying (Common Mistake) “Saying you” is invalid. (B) speaking (Strong Distractor). (D) talking (Structural Error).
15 (A) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): Quoting the claims made by a company in their commercials. “Say” focuses on the words or content produced.
- Error Analysis: (B) tells (Common Mistake) needs an object (tells us). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
16 (D) tell
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Tell the truth” is a fixed collocation, followed here by the personal object “you”.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake). (B) talk (Structural Error). (C) speak (Strong Distractor) “Speak the truth” is too poetic/formal for a product review.
17 (C) said
- Why it is correct (The Key): An email is a digital document. It contains written text, so it “said” that someone would contact the buyer.
- Error Analysis: (A) told (Common Mistake) missing a personal object (e.g., told me). (B) spoke (Strong Distractor). (D) talked (Structural Error).
18 (D) speak
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Actions speak louder than words” is a famous, non-negotiable English proverb.
- Error Analysis: (A) say (Common Mistake). (B) tell (Structural Error). (C) talk (Strong Distractor).
19 (A) say
- Why it is correct (The Key): A warranty document contains text, so we ask what it “says”.
- Error Analysis: (B) tell (Common Mistake). (C) speak (Strong Distractor). (D) talk (Structural Error).
20 (B) says
- Why it is correct (The Key): A brochure is a printed piece of paper. Like all written materials in English, it “says” things.
- Error Analysis: (A) tells (Common Mistake). (C) speaks (Strong Distractor). (D) talks (Structural Error).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 Inanimate Objects “SAY” Things:
- The most important rule for referencing written texts, advertisements, or recorded media is to use the verb SAY. They do not speak or talk because they do not have a physical voice.
- Examples of things that “say”: * Websites, emails, and texts (The website says…)
- Advertisements, brochures, flyers (The ad says 50% off.)
- Labels, tags, packaging, boxes (The label says 100% cotton.)
- Manuals, instructions, documents (The manual says to wait.)
2 When can an object “TELL”?
- A document or website can only use TELL if you immediately include a personal object (me, us, you) right after the verb.
- Incorrect: The website tells that returns are free.
- Correct: The website tells us that returns are free.
- Correct: The website says that returns are free.
3 Crucial Collocations to Remember:
- Tell the truth / Tell a lie / Tell a story.
- Talk sense into someone (Persuade them to be reasonable).
- Actions speak louder than words (What you do matters more than promises).
- It goes without saying (It is incredibly obvious).
4 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 without “to”. (He told me that…)