Joey_five  +  436636 Tue, 30 Oct 07 02:30 AM Dear all, 1. Can you speak English? 2. Can you speak in English? 3. I want to learn how to speak English. 4. I want to learn how to speak in English. Are the above sentences all correct? Is there any difference in  meaning if "in" is used?? Thanks in advance Joey_five Joined on Mon, Oct 10 2005 Full Member 105 Speak English

	Clive  +  436644 Tue, 30 Oct 07 02:42 AM Hi, 1. Can you speak English? 2. Can you speak in English? 3. I want to learn how to speak English. 4. I want to learn how to speak in English. Are the above sentences all correct? Yes. Is there any difference in  meaning if "in" is used?? Usually, 'in' is not used. It doesn't sound natural in any of these examples. Let me comment by offering a couple of examples. If I were in a foreign country, and I walked into a hotel, I might say to the man behind the counter, 'Can you speak English?' Now consider a context where different languages are being discussed. You are German. Yous say something in Japanese. I might naturally say to you, 'Can you say that in English?' Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,676 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Speak English

	CalifJim  +  436647 Tue, 30 Oct 07 02:46 AM There's actually very little difference, and it's very subtle. speak [language] is a non-contrastive do speaking using [language].  This form is usually used with knowing and learning.  I [ know / learned ] how to speak English. speak in [language] is a contrastive communicate using this method rather than another.  This form is used more often when there is a choice.  The following example uses speak in as conduct the meeting in. Let's see.  Everybody here speaks both Chinese and English.  What is your preference for our meeting?  Should we speak in Chinese or should we speak in English? CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,465 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Speak English

	khoff  +  436673 Tue, 30 Oct 07 04:22 AM Jim, your acumen never ceases to amaze me! khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,278 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

	CalifJim  +  436705 Tue, 30 Oct 07 07:20 AM   Thanks! I hope that compliment doesn't prove to be premature.  I don't think I've completely refined the difference between those -- yet.  Still cogitating.  CJ CalifJim Difference Between, Speak English

	Marius Hancu  +  436771 Tue, 30 Oct 07 12:37 PM BBC World Service | Learning English | Ask about English You know you're making progress in English when you speak in English, think in English, and dream in English. One day a student came into the class very ... BBC NEWS | Education | Your views on language lessons Unfortunately this normally prompts them to speak in English. I often wonder why I've put so much time into learning German which could have been used ... Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Speak English, Learning English