Difference between revisions of "Say"
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| − | '''say''' is most frequently <span style="font-size:73%;">(or at least ''very'' frequently)</span> used to talk about "what ''was'' said" in the past. For direct quotes this presents no problem: | + | :'''say''' is most frequently <span style="font-size:73%;">(or at least ''very'' frequently)</span> used to talk about "what ''was'' said" in the past. For direct quotes this presents no problem: |
| − | *They said "No way!" | + | :*They said "No way!" |
| − | *They said OK. | + | :*They said OK. |
| − | *They said no. | + | :*They said no. |
| − | Most often though, we transpose what ''was'' said into the past tense: | + | :Most often though, we transpose what ''was'' said into the past tense: |
| − | *<span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:70%;">Lily at the '''10am''' meeting</span>: I ''can't'' be here tonight, my flight ''is'' leaving at 7pm.<br> | + | :*<span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:70%;">Lily at the '''10am''' meeting</span>: I ''can't'' be here tonight, my flight ''is'' leaving at 7pm.<br> |
| − | *<span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:70%;">Boris at the '''6pm''' meeting</span>: Lily said <span style="color:#777;">(that)</span> she ''couldn't'' be here tonight because her flight ''was'' leaving at 7pm. | + | :*<span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:70%;">Boris at the '''6pm''' meeting</span>: Lily said <span style="color:#777;">(that)</span> she ''couldn't'' be here tonight because her flight ''was'' leaving at 7pm. |
| − | If what was said was already in the past tense, we ''sometimes'' transpose to the past perfect. | + | :If what was said was already in the past tense, we ''sometimes'' transpose to the past perfect. |
===<span style="color:#207;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-size:75%;">tenses, aspects, modes=== | ===<span style="color:#207;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-size:75%;">tenses, aspects, modes=== | ||
| − | '''Say''' is compatible with both present & past tenses, with perfective and imperfective (continuous) aspects, and with all of the English modal verbs. | + | :'''Say''' is compatible with both present & past tenses, with perfective and imperfective (continuous) aspects, and with all of the English modal verbs. |
| − | *just sayin' = ''je dis ça, je dis rien''. ^ | + | :*just sayin' = ''je dis ça, je dis rien''. ^^ |
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| + | [[Category:100-en]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:42, 21 April 2020
Contents
[hide]Pronunciation
present tense: say: /seɪ/, rhymes with the letter A, and 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).
It is used in situations where a person sends a message through speech (or writing, n'en déplaise aux puristes).
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.
reported speech
- say is most frequently (or at least very frequently) used to talk about "what was said" in the past. For direct quotes this presents no problem:
- They said "No way!"
- They said OK.
- They said no.
- Most often though, we transpose what was said into the past tense:
- Lily at the 10am meeting: I can't be here tonight, my flight is leaving at 7pm.
- Boris at the 6pm meeting: Lily said (that) she couldn't be here tonight because her flight was leaving at 7pm.
- Lily at the 10am meeting: I can't be here tonight, my flight is leaving at 7pm.
- If what was said was already in the past tense, we sometimes transpose to the past perfect.
tenses, aspects, modes
- Say is compatible with both present & past tenses, with perfective and imperfective (continuous) aspects, and with all of the English modal verbs.
- just sayin' = je dis ça, je dis rien. ^^
