Say Used with direct and indirect speech Say is most often used without a personal object. If we want to put a personal object after say, we use to. Examples She said that it was my last chance. He said, ‘Good morning.’ She said that she would be late. (not She said me...) And I say to all the people of this great country... Talk There is not very much difference between speak and talk. Talk is the more usual word to refer to conversational exchanges and informal communication. Examples When she walked into the room everybody stopped talking Speak is often used for one-way communication and for exchanges in more serious or formal situations. Speak is the usual word to refer to knowledge and use of languages. Examples I’ll have to speak to that boy -- he’s getting very lazy. After she had finished reading the letter, nobody spoke. She speaks three languages fluently.