speak

speak well〔ill〕 for, speak well〔ill〕 of

这两个短语都可表示“说好〔坏〕话”。它们的区别是：

1.speak well〔ill〕 for的意思是“证〔说〕明…好〔坏〕”; 而speak well〔ill〕 of的意思是“说…好〔坏〕话”。例如:

His generous gift speaks well for his willingness to help others.他慷慨的赠品说明了他助人的诚意。

I have never spoken ill of him.我从未说过他的坏话。

2.speak well〔ill〕 for的主语可用事态名词作主语,也可用无人称代词it作主语; 而speak well〔ill〕 of只能以人作主语。

3.speak of中间可用副词highly或favourable; 而speak for不可。例如:

I'd like to meet his daughter, everyone speaks very highly of her.我很想见见他的女儿,人人都称赞她。

speak to, speak with

这两个短语都可表示“和…谈话”。它们的区别是：

speak to强调一个人对另一个人讲话,有主动讲与被动听的意味; 而speak with则着重“相互交谈”的意味。例如:

I wish to speak to you in private.我希望私下和你谈谈。

I spoke with them for an hour.我和他们谈了一个小时。

另一方面英式英语中常用speak to,而美式英语中常用speak with。

speak to, talk to, tell off

这三个短语都可表示“责备”“斥责”。它们的区别是：

speak to是指某人做错了事,因此说说他,是温和地责备,轻微地申斥,含有规劝的意味; talk to的意思是“训斥”“劝诫”; tell off表示述说某人的坏行为。例如:

I'll see that he is spoken to about it.关于那件事我想我得找人和他谈谈。

I'll talk to him.我会训斥他的。

That fellow needs to be told off.那个家伙该挨一顿骂。