Difference between revisions of "Say"
From Creolista!
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| − | :'''Tell''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">sender | + | :'''Tell''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">sender</span> and a <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">receiver</span> <span style="font-size:75%;">(''destinataire'')</span> (''whom'', ''us'', ''them'', etc.). |
:<s style=color:#888;">to</s> is '''not''' used to introduce the message recipient.<br> | :<s style=color:#888;">to</s> is '''not''' used to introduce the message recipient.<br> | ||
:*<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't tell <span style="color:#80A;">Lily</span>. | :*<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't tell <span style="color:#80A;">Lily</span>. | ||
Revision as of 21:53, 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.
- 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.
- Tell requires a sender and a receiver (destinataire) (whom, us, them, etc.).
tois not used to introduce the message recipient.
- Boris didn't tell 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 didn't tell Lily to do anything.
