Say

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.

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Tell requires a sender and a receiver (destinataire) (whom, us, them, etc.).

Unlike with say, to is not needed to introduce the receiver.

• Boris didn't tell Lily.    Boris ne lui a pas dit.

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.