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Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

talk/speak

0Jim: May I ___ to Helen, please? Jack: I'm afraid that you have the wrong number.02br
02br
00(A) talk (B) say (C) speak (D) go02br
02br
00C is correct. Is A also acceptable?0-
  

Top answer

0 01i 00Talk02i 00 means 01i 00have a conversation02i 00. 02br 02br 00 In this context it's like asking Jack for permission to have a conversation with Helen. Strange.

— Marius Hancu

  • 0 01i 00Talk02i 00 means 01i 00have a conversation02i 00.
  • 02br 02br 00 In this context it's like asking Jack for permission to have a conversation with Helen.
  • Strange.
  • 02i 0-
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25 Answers
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0 01i00Talk02i00 means 01i00have a conversation02i00. 02br
02br
00 In this context it's like asking Jack for permission to have a conversation with Helen. Strange. 02br
02br
00 In this context, use 01i00speak.02i0-
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0This sounded like a dialog from a phone converstaion in which the caller is asking to talk to Helen. 02br
02br
00May I speak to / with Helen? 02br
02br
00May I talk to Helen02br
02br
00I think both work but speak is more preferred.0-
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0The answer to your question according to Longman's Advanced Dictionary is TALK!!! NOT SPEAK.02br
02br
00And here is the words usage guidline as found in the dictionary:02br
02br
00speak, talk 02br
02br
01font00When one person is saying things02font00, you can 01font00
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0
0 --------02br
00 Your child should ask for the person he wishes to speak with by02br
00 saying, "May I 01b00speak02b00 with Kurt, please?" rather than "Is Kurt there?"02br
02br
00 Manners Made Easy For Your 3- to 5-Year-Old02br
05002br
00 --------02br
00 Ask, "May I 01b00speak0
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0
0 01blockquote
00Is A also acceptable?12blockquote
10 Yes, but it's less formal.02br
02br
01i00May I?02i00 is more formal.02br
01i00Can I?02i00 is less formal.02br
02br
01i00May I speak02i00 is consistent in the level of formality.02br
00
0
0
0hmmmm...02br
02br
00Did I miss understand the dictionary distinction between 01u00talk02u00 and 01u00speak02u00???02br
02br
00Or maybe it is only true in British English since Longman is probably pro-British???0-
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2br
02br
00Hi Magic,02br
02br
00Book references sometimes are misinterpreted. In some instances, they may even be questionable. From my own experience, I feel the most difficult part for the learners is to learn to distinguish what looks and sounds correct, aside from being grammatically correct. Secondly, it is the fact that they lack the constant exposure to
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0 IMO, for the purposes of this discussion, a telephone connection is established on several levels: 02br
02br
00 1.) Sensory level. 02br
02br
00 You must establish first verbal and auditive01font00 contact02font00, thus 01b00speak02b00 and 01b00hear02b00 each othe
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0Less natural. 01a05000 02a02br
02br
0240hrefhttp://www.englishclub.com/esl-forums/viewtopic.php?p=305623#305623
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0 Very good! I couldn't have said it better... 0-
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