——What did you think of her speech? ——She ____ for one hour but didn't ____ much. A. spoke; speak B. spoke; say C. said; speak D. said; say(全国高考,95-34) 答案为 B。我不明白为什么不能选 C。
speak 用作不及物动词时,侧重于说话的动作本身,而不涉及讲话的内容。从小孩学说话到发表演说,都可以用 speak 这个词:
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The child hasn't learned to speak yet. 这孩子还没有学会说话。
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Could I speak to Jim, please? 我可以同吉姆讲话吗?
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The chairwoman spoke for an hour at the meeting. 女主席在会上讲了一个小时。当 speak 接 English, Chinese, French 等表示语言的词语时, 可以用作及物动词:
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Do you speak English? 你(会)说英语吗?
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I can speak French. 我会说法语。
say 侧重所说的内容, 它几乎总带有宾语[名词、代词、从句(包括直接引语和间接引语)]。答题时要抓住 say 的这一特点。上面试题中的 much 便是 say 的宾语, 而 speak 是不能带此类宾语的, 故不能选 C。
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What did he say? 他刚才说什么？(what 是 say 的宾语)
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He says (that) he is busy. 他说他很忙。(that 从句是 says 的宾语)
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I think we can say it's a "plike". 我想我们可以说它是 plike。(it's a plike 是省略 that 的宾语从句)
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“I don't know,” he says. (直接引语是 says 的宾语) “我不知道，”他说。请做下面的英语试题：
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——Hello. May I speak to Zhao Hua? ——Yes. ____.
A. My name's Zhao Hua B. I'm Zhao Hua
C. This is Zhao Hua speaking D. Zhao Hua is me(全国高考,92-15) -
How do you ____ it in English? A. say B. talk C. speak D. tell
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She began to ____ something but stopped when she heard the teacher ____.
A. tell... saying B. speak... talking
C. say... speaking D. talk... telling(上海高考,92-21)