say 强调说话内容,一般用作及物动词。表示“对某人说”,可用 say to sb。如:
Did you say anything (to him)? 你(对他)说了些什么?
He said (that) he wanted to go. 他说他想去。
注:以下句型值得注意:
据说他病了。
正:It is said that he is ill.
正:He is said to be ill.
speak 强调单方的“说”或“讲”,一般用作不及物动词,要表示“对某人说(某事)”,可用 speak to [with] sb (about sth)。如:
Please speak more slowly. 请说慢一点。
I spoke to [with] the chairman about my idea. 我跟主席说了我的想法。
talk 强调双方“交谈”,一般用作不及物动词,表示“同某人谈论(某事)”,可用 talk to [with] sb (about sth)。如:
He was talking to [with] a friend. 他在同一位朋友谈话。
What are they talking about? 他们在谈论什么?
注:有时可用作及物动词,表示“谈论”、“讨论”等,但此时通常只与个别名词连用。如:
talk business 谈正事 talk nonsense [rubbish] 胡说八道