Say (say/said/said)
We use say when we report someone’s words.
- She said ‘This is horrible!’
- He said that he wanted a drink.
We use say when we ask about language.
- a: How do you say ‘book’ in Spanish? b: ‘Libro’.
We say hello / goodbye please / thank you /Happy Birthday / Merry Christmas / Happy New Year / Congratulations
Tell (tell/told/told)
Tell is usually followed immediately by a person. Say is not followed immediately by a person.
- He told me his name. [not He said me his name.]
We use tell when we want to know how to get to a place.
- Can you tell me where the bus station is, please? [not Can you say me …?]
We use tell with other wh- words too (when, how, why, where), e.g. you can tell someone how to do something, where something is, why something happened.
- He told me how to send a fax.
- Tell me when you want to have dinner.
- You can tell someone the time / a story / a joke / your name / address / telephone number.
Ask
Ask is used for questions.
- My sister asked me where I was going, (or My sister asked (me) ‘Where are you going?’)
- a: Can I ask you a question? b: Yes.
- a: What day of the week were you born? b: Thursday.
You can ask someone the way / the time / a question.
Ask somebody to do something and ask someone for something.
- I asked him to turn off his radio, (or I said ‘Please turn off your radio.’
- She asked for the bill, (or She said ‘Can I have the bill please?’)
Speak/talk/answer/reply
Do you speak Japanese? [not Do you -talk Japanese?]
I like talking to you. (having a conversation with you)
Can you answer the telephone / the door, please?
(pick up the phone / open the door to see who it is)
I wrote a letter to him but he did not reply.
(for letters/faxes/e-mails) (he did not send me a letter