Lesson 24 - say, tell, talk
🎤 SAY IT! TELL ME!
A Very Bad Day at School
Learn to say, tell, speak, talk, ask, answer, shout, whisper and more!
⏰ 45–60 minutes · 📚 Reading · Speaking · Tests
🚀 1. Warm-up: Let's talk!
Think about your daily routine. Answer these questions out loud. There are no wrong answers!
👕 Clothes
- What do you usually wear to school?
- Do you ever wear something funny by mistake?
- What would you say if your friend wore two different shoes?
⏰ Daily routines
- What time do you usually wake up?
- Do you talk to your family before school?
- Have you ever been late? What did you tell your teacher?
I usually wear jeans and a T-shirt. I once wore my slippers to school. I told my teacher I was having a very comfortable day!
📖 2. Speaking verbs: The quick guide
Read the examples. Notice the words that come after each verb.
💬 SAY and TELL
SAY + words / something
“Good morning!” she said.
He said hello to me.
TELL + someone + something
She told me a funny story.
My mum told me to get dressed.
Not: He told the answer. ✗
But: He said the answer. ✓
🗣️ SPEAK and TALK
SPEAK is often used for languages and formal situations.
I speak English and Greek.
May I speak to the teacher?
TALK is often used for conversations.
I need to talk to my friend.
We talk about our homework.
❓ ASK, ASK FOR, REQUEST and BEG
ASK someone a question
I asked my teacher a question.
ASK someone to do something
I asked my brother to help me.
ASK FOR something
I asked for a pencil.
REQUEST something (formal)
The teacher requested a meeting.
BEG someone for something / to do something (desperate)
I begged my friend for a sandwich.
I begged him to share his lunch.
📩 ANSWER and REPLY
ANSWER a question / someone
Please answer my question.
REPLY TO a message / email / person
She replied to my message.
📢 SHOUT, YELL, SCREAM and WHISPER
SHOUT — speak loudly, for many reasons
He shouted “Hello!” across the playground.
YELL — speak very loudly, often because you are angry
“Stop yelling at me!” she said.
SCREAM — make a very loud sound because you are scared or hurt
She screamed when she saw a spider.
WHISPER — speak very quietly
He whispered a secret to his friend.
😤 COMPLAIN and SUGGEST
COMPLAIN ABOUT something
We complained about the cold classroom.
SUGGEST something / doing something
She suggested a new game.
He suggested going to the park.
🧩 3. Test your vocabulary!
Choose the best answer. Press Check answers to see your score.
1. “Good morning!” he _____ to his teacher.
2. My dad _____ me to clean my room.
3. Can I _____ to your teacher, please?
4. I _____ my friend for a pen.
5. “Be quiet!” she _____ because the baby was sleeping.
6. I sent him a message, but he didn't _____.
7. The students _____ about the difficult homework.
8. I _____ my friend to lend me his jacket. I was freezing!
📚 4. Funny reading: The Wrong Clothes!
Read the story. Pay attention to the speaking verbs in bold.
It was Monday morning. Alex woke up late because of his noisy alarm clock. He jumped out of bed, got dressed quickly and ran to school.
```At the school gate, his best friend Mia looked at him and started to laugh.
“Alex, why are you wearing your dad's trousers?” she asked.
“What? These are my trousers!” Alex said.
“Look at your shoes!” Mia whispered.
Alex looked down. He was wearing one red shoe and one blue slipper. He also had his pyjama top under his jacket!
“Oh no!” he screamed. “I got dressed in the dark!”
They went into class. Their teacher, Mr Brown, told everyone to sit down. Alex tried to hide under his desk, but his trousers were too long. He stepped on them and fell onto his chair.
“Are you OK?” Mr Brown asked.
“Yes,” Alex answered. “But I have a small problem with my clothes.”
Mr Brown looked at Alex and suggested calling his mum. Alex begged him not to call her.
“Please, sir! She will tell the whole family!”
However, Mr Brown called her because Alex needed his school uniform. His mum replied to the phone and said, “I'm coming. And I'm bringing my camera!”
Alex complained about his terrible morning. Mia shouted, “Smile, Alex! You're the best-dressed boy in school!”
Although Alex felt embarrassed, he laughed too. Because of his funny clothes, everyone remembered Monday as the best school day ever.
```🔎 Reading check: True or False?
1. Alex woke up early and got dressed slowly.
2. Alex was wearing a red shoe and a blue slipper.
3. Mr Brown told Alex to go home immediately.
4. Alex's mum wanted to bring a camera.
5. Alex laughed at the end of the story.
🔗 5. Complete the sentences
Choose the correct speaking verb or expression.
1. My friend _____ that she was tired.
2. My teacher _____ me to open my book.
3. “Let's play football after school,” he _____.
4. Please don't _____ at me. I'm standing next to you!
5. She didn't _____ to my email yesterday.
🧠 6. Grammar challenge: Although, However, Because of
These expressions help you connect ideas.
ALTHOUGH = despite the fact that / even though
Although I was late, I went to school.
HOWEVER = but / in contrast (often at the start of a new sentence)
I was late. However, the teacher was kind.
BECAUSE OF + noun / noun phrase = for this reason
I was late because of the traffic.
Because of + noun
However, + a new sentence
1. _____ it was raining, we played football.
2. I missed the bus _____ my alarm didn't ring.
3. I wanted to wear my new jacket. _____, it was too hot.
4. We stayed inside _____ the bad weather.
🎭 7. Speaking time!
Work with a partner or speak aloud. Try to use at least five speaking verbs from this lesson.
Situation A: The missing jacket
You can't find your favourite jacket before school.
Student A: Ask your brother where it is. Tell him why you need it. Complain about the cold weather.
Student B: Explain what happened. Suggest another jacket. Don't shout!
Useful phrases: “Did you see my jacket?” “I told you…” “I suggest…”
Situation B: The noisy classroom
Your classmates are talking during a test.
Student A: Ask them to be quiet. Explain the problem.
Student B: Reply politely. Suggest a solution.
Useful phrases: “Could you please…?” “I didn't mean to…” “Let's…”
Situation C: The funny photo
Your friend has a photo of you wearing your pyjamas at school!
Student A: Beg your friend not to send the photo to anyone.
Student B: Ask for something in return. Suggest a funny caption.
Useful phrases: “Please don't…” “I beg you…” “How about…?”
💡 Speaking questions
- Have you ever told a funny story to your friends?
- What do you usually complain about?
- When do you whisper? When do you shout?
- What do your parents often tell you to do?
- What would you suggest for a fun school day?
🏆 8. Final boss: The speaking verbs quiz
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. How many can you get right?
1. “I am hungry,” she _____.
2. He _____ me a secret.
3. She _____ to my message this morning.
4. I _____ my dad to buy me new shoes.
5. The baby was sleeping, so we _____.
6. “Let's go to the cinema,” he _____.
7. She _____ when she saw the big spider.
8. We _____ about the cold classroom.
🎉 Well done!
Today you practised saying things, telling people things, asking questions, replying to messages, and speaking politely or loudly.
Exit ticket: Write or say three sentences:
- One sentence with tell.
- One sentence with ask for.
- One sentence with although, however, or because of.
Example: Although I was late, I told my teacher the truth.
