Can you hear what he is...

[Violino]

Thanks a lot, Yankee!:)

[Icy]

thank you very much for your explianation.
i think i can understand these words a lots.

[Piotrekabk]

Hi Torsten, thanks for the test! it's looked easy but I made one mistake ( I mean 1 question). ok, i'm gonna look at the lesson no.2 now cause i've got two form you.
Have a nice day:)

[Kira]

I got 8/10, thx Torsten

[Hassi]

Hello, everybody!
I'm little bit confused too.
I thought i understand different between all this verbs very well.
Now i cant got it what it wrong if i use "speaking" and not "saying". I mean he can speak to sb and i can hear it and ask the other person why might hear too.
Or i think generally wrong and i may not use verb "speaking" whit out telling to whom should be speaking?
many thanks for answer and i hope, there are some people why would understood my English

[Alan]

Hi Hassi,

'Speak' usually involves using speech or a language whereas 'say' could be a statement or simply a word.

Two sentences:

I am sorry to interrupt you while you are speaking (in the middle of a conversation).

I didn't hear what she was saying (she was making a statement/giving some information).

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Hassi]

Hello, Alan!
Many thanks, i got it!

[Kisaki]

Hi Torsten,
I'm Kisaki.I'm really happy to receive your email.I've done your first test.I found that it's very useful.
I'm looking forward to seeing your next email.
Thank you very much^^

[Mahmuterkul]

thanks everybody you're great

[Xiyuan71]

" (using words to describe something) , TELLING the others (informing them/this verb usually has an object) , SPEAKING (giving a speech) , TALKING (having a conversation) about the possibility of going to listen to him",it is useful to me,thanks Alan and Mr Torstan,but can you tell me the difference between "talking" and "speaking"in the sentence that is "people talking without speaking,people hearing without listening",thanks again

[Vakil]

Hi Sir,

I have received the first E-mail lesson and i followed it but there are so many units in the lesson. so can you please tell me exatly what lesson is and how many unit it comprises of?

[Alan]

Hi,

'Talking' and 'speaking' are two activities to do with language. The first usually involves a conversation and the second refers simply to the idea of using language.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Xiyuan71]

:) ,thank you

[Macgyver]

Hi there,
I agree "Can you hear what he is saying?" makes more sense but could someone guide me why can't we choose (b) speaking?
For example, in a speech contest, I think "Can you hear what he is speaking?" can be used... Correct me please.

Thanks,
Mac

[Alan]

Hi Mac,

I think if you wanted to use 'speaking' in a sentence like that, you would have to more specific with the object as 'what' is too vague for the verb 'speaking'. You could say: Can you hear what language he is speaking?

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice