Quick Tips
This time in the Quick Tips section I would like to share with you an interesting question I got from a teacher, together with my answer to it.
The question is the following:
Which one is more correct:
"Can I speak Italian?"
OR
"Can I speak in Italian"?
(by Franzoso E. from Italy)
ANSWER:
To understand what is the real difference between these two sentences we must look into what each of them means:
1) "Can we speak Italian?"
2) "Can we speak in Italian?"
(by Franzoso E. from Italy)
ANSWER:
To understand what is the real difference between these two sentences we must look into what each of them means:
1) "Can we speak Italian?"
2) "Can we speak in Italian?"
Let's see what the online Oxford dictionary has to say about it:
Speak something = to be able to use a particular language.
Example: "Do you speak English?"
Meaning: Are you able to speak English? Do you know it well enough to use it?
Example: "She can't speak French."
Meaning: She is not able to speak French. She doesn't know it well enough to use it.
Speak in something = to use a particular language to express yourself.
Example: "Would you prefer it if we spoke in German?"
Meaning: Would you prefer it if we used German to speak?
Example: "He dislikes speaking in English because of his accent."
Meaning: He dislikes using English to express himself because of his accent.
(Note: you can also use "speak something" in this meaning in sentences such as: "What language is it they're speaking?")
So, regarding our original question:
"Can I speak Italian?" means: "Do I know Italian well enough to use it?"
And:
"Can I speak in Italian?" means: "May I use Italian to express myself?"
"Can I speak Italian?" means: "Do I know Italian well enough to use it?"
And:
"Can I speak in Italian?" means: "May I use Italian to express myself?"
So that's about it for now.
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