Talk about/Speak about/Say of

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello Teachers

Would you please tell me if the four phrases are correct and equal in meaning in the following?

  • When I see my brother ,I will say of my wife to him.
  • When I see my brother ,I will tell about my wife to him.
  • When I see my brother ,I will talk about my wife to him.
  • When I see my brother ,I will speak about my wife with him.
2
  • When I see my brother ,I will say of my wife to him. - incorrect
  • When I see my brother ,I will tell about my wife to him. - incorrect
  • When I see my brother ,I will talk about my wife to him. - correct.
  • When I see my brother ,I will speak about my wife with him. - correct
    The two correct sentences mean the same.

You have punctuation gap errors in all these sentences. The space should come after the comma, not before it:

  • When I see my brother, I will talk about my wife to him.
  • When I see my brother, I will speak about my wife with him.
3

Beeesneees,

  1. When I see my brother, I will talk about my wife with him.
  2. When I see my brother, I will speak about my wife to him.
    I have changed the prepositions.
    Are they correct and mean the same?
4

Thank you for your quick replies

What about "speak of " in the following:

When I see my brother, I will speak of my wife to him

5

That’s okay, but less usual.

6

Beeesneees,
Are my sentences quoted at post #3 correct?
Please confirm.

7

yes

8

Beeesneees,
“You can tell (all) about your trip to me at dinner.”
Is this sentence OK?
If it is good, how you are saying: “I will tell about my wife to him.” is wrong?
Please elucidate the nuance of its grammar?
Thanks.

9

This sentence should be
“You can tell me (all) about your trip at dinner.”
The original should be
“I will tell him (all) about my wife.”

10

Beeesneees,
“It was hard to tell the difference between these twin brothers.”
Is this sentence OK?

11

It is, but it would be unusual to need ‘these’. Perhaps you were thinking of ‘those’ or ‘the’ which would be much more usual.
This is not the same structure as ‘tell me about’ and it would be a mistake to try to compare the two.

12

Beeesneees,

  1. “It was hard to tell the difference between twin brothers.”
  2. “It was hard to tell the difference between the twin brothers.”
    Which one is correct?
13

Usually number 2. You are speaking about a specific set of twins.

If you use 1 you are speaking about twin brothers in general.