Collocations for speak - verb
1. have a conversation
ADV.
briefly
We spoke briefly on the phone.
We spoke briefly on the phone.
at length | hardly
Ben hardly spoke to me all evening.
Ben hardly spoke to me all evening.
VERB + SPEAK
want to | refuse to
The president refused to speak to the waiting journalists.
The president refused to speak to the waiting journalists.
dare (to)
No one had ever dared speak to him like that before.
No one had ever dared speak to him like that before.
PREP.
about, to
I need to speak to Joseph about this matter.
I need to speak to Joseph about this matter.
with
Can I speak with you for a minute?
Can I speak with you for a minute?
PHRASES
be on speaking terms (with sb)
We are still on speaking terms after the argument.
We are still on speaking terms after the argument.
not be speaking (to sb)
Ed and Dave aren''t speaking at the moment.
Ed and Dave aren''t speaking at the moment.
2. use your voice to say sth
ADV.
loudly | quietly, softly | clearly
You must speak loudly and clearly on the stage.
You must speak loudly and clearly on the stage.
slowly | calmly | brusquely, sharply | briefly | at length | suddenly | hardly | eloquently, movingly
She spoke eloquently about the need for action.
She spoke eloquently about the need for action.
lovingly, warmly | disparagingly, harshly | encouragingly, soothingly | authoritatively, forcefully | earnestly | coherently, intelligibly, meaningfully | absently | freely, openly | boldly | hesitantly | out
VERB + SPEAK
be able/unable to, can/could (hardly)
She was so moved she could hardly speak.
She was so moved she could hardly speak.
begin to, open your mouth to
She opened her mouth to speak and found she couldn''t.
She opened her mouth to speak and found she couldn''t.
try to | dare not, not trust yourself to
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
hear sb
I heard him speak at the debating society.
I heard him speak at the debating society.
PREP.
about, against
He spoke out against mismanagement.
He spoke out against mismanagement.
for
I speak for all my colleagues.
I speak for all my colleagues.
in favour of
She spoke in favour of the new tax.
She spoke in favour of the new tax.
on
She speaks on women''s issues.
She speaks on women''s issues.
on behalf of
I speak on behalf of many thousands of women.
I speak on behalf of many thousands of women.
of
He speaks very warmly of you.
He speaks very warmly of you.
to
He will be speaking to history students about the causes of war.
He will be speaking to history students about the causes of war.
3. know a language
ADV.
fluently, well
He speaks German fluently.
He speaks German fluently.
VERB + SPEAK
be able/unable to, can/could | learn to
learning to speak a foreign language
learning to speak a foreign language
teach sb to
PREP.
in
Would you prefer it if we spoke in French?
Would you prefer it if we spoke in French?