Difference between revisions of "Say"
From Creolista!
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:*<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> ''Boris n'a rien dit.''</span> | :*<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> ''Boris n'a rien dit.''</span> | ||
::It is optional to mention the <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">receiver</span> of the message. | ::It is optional to mention the <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">receiver</span> of the message. | ||
| − | ::That person is introduced with the operator/preposition ''to''. | + | ::That person is introduced with <span style="color:#888;font-size:70%;font-variant:small-caps;">the operator/preposition</span> ''to''. |
::*<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> <span style="color:#80A;">to Lily</span>. ''Boris n'a rien dit à Lily.''</span> | ::*<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> <span style="color:#80A;">to Lily</span>. ''Boris n'a rien dit à Lily.''</span> | ||
Revision as of 22:03, 21 April 2020
Contents
[hide]Pronunciation
present tense: say: /seɪ/, rhymes with the letter A, & the words way, and weigh
- says: /sez/, rhymes with fez
past tense & past participle: said, /sed/, rhymes with bed
Semantics
The fourth most common verb in English (after the auxiliaries be, have, & do), it means speak or assert. (dire in French).
Syntax
say or tell ?
- Say requires a sender and a message, i.e. what is said. (ce qui est dit, ou ce qu'on dit)
- Boris didn't say anything Boris n'a rien dit.
- It is optional to mention the receiver of the message.
- That person is introduced with the operator/preposition to.
- Boris didn't say anything to Lily. Boris n'a rien dit à Lily.
- Tell requires a sender and a receiver (destinataire) (whom, us, them, etc.).
- Unlike with say,
tois not needed to introduce the receiver.
- Boris didn't tell Lily. Boris n'a pas informé Lily.
- The optional direct object (COD) can be either a noun phrase (the answer, the truth, a lie, a story, ...) or an infinitival (to wait, to call back later... etc.)
- Boris didn't tell Lily anything. Boris n'a rien dit à Lily.
- Boris didn't tell Lily to do anything. Boris ne lui a pas dit de faire quoique ce soit.
