Talk to vs Talk with?

Question

I find it's grammatically incorrect when someone says "I want to talk WITH you". It's either talk TO you.. or have a discussion WITH you. Am I alone here?

Answer 1

You are right, there is a lot of subtlety there. Generally, "talk to" means the same as "talk at" (I do the talking, the other person had better listen). "Talk with" suggests more of a conversation mode.

But you are right, no one would say "I want to talk with you."

It's one of those wonderful things about English . Some phrases just stick a particular way, and that's it.

Keep catching those. You might be a great writer some day!

Answer 2

I don't think it is gramatically incorrect. When you say you want to do something with someone, you mean that you would like for both of you to participate in the activity. Why couldn't you say you want to talk with someone, if you mean that you want both people to participate in the activity of talking?

Answer 3

You are correct. The usage of the word 'talk with' is used to describe someones accent of speaking. For example....He was talking with an Irish accent.When you have a conversation with someone, you are talking to them

Answer 4

it could be based on what you want to do. if you're having a discussion, you and the other person (or people) are all going o talk, hence you could say your are talking with them. if you're speaking and they're listening, you're talking to them

me, i think of it like this: TO implies direction. WITH implies simultaneous action, usually directed at the same object or person

Answer 5

I think it's more of a connotation than an issue of grammar. "Talk to" implies that it will be a one-way communication, as in I need to tell you something. "Talk with" implies a dialogue, as in I need to ask your opinion on something.

Answer 6

I believe that it is two different things.
1) I am going to "Talk To" you today about your homework.
2) I am going to "Talk with" your mom about this wordplay.