Difference between revisions of "Say"
From Creolista!
(→Arguments (valence): say vs. tell) |
(→Arguments (valence): say vs. tell) |
||
Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
===Arguments (valence): say vs. tell=== | ===Arguments (valence): say vs. tell=== | ||
*'''Say''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">subject (S)</span> and a <span style="color:#0A8;font-variant:small-caps;">direct object (COD)</span>, i.e. what is said. (''ce qui est dit'', ou ''ce qu'on dit'') | *'''Say''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">subject (S)</span> and a <span style="color:#0A8;font-variant:small-caps;">direct object (COD)</span>, i.e. what is said. (''ce qui est dit'', ou ''ce qu'on dit'') | ||
− | + | ;*<span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span>. | |
*An optional <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">indirect object (COI)</span> (to whom it was said) is introduced with the operator/preposition "to". | *An optional <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">indirect object (COI)</span> (to whom it was said) is introduced with the operator/preposition "to". | ||
:;*<span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> <span style="color:#80A;">to Lily</span>. | :;*<span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> <span style="color:#80A;">to Lily</span>. | ||
Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
*'''Tell''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">subject (S)</span> and a <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">indirect object (COI) </span> (to ''whom'' it was said). '''to''' is ''not'' used to introduce the indirect object.<br> | *'''Tell''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">subject (S)</span> and a <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">indirect object (COI) </span> (to ''whom'' it was said). '''to''' is ''not'' used to introduce the indirect object.<br> | ||
− | + | ;*<span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't tell <span style="color:#80A;">her</span>. | |
*The optional <span style="color:#0A8;font-variant:small-caps;">direct object (COD)</span> can be either a noun phrase <span style="font-size:78%;">(the answer, the truth, a lie, a story, ...)<span> or an infinitival <span style="font-size:78%;">(to wait, to call back later... etc.)</span> | *The optional <span style="color:#0A8;font-variant:small-caps;">direct object (COD)</span> can be either a noun phrase <span style="font-size:78%;">(the answer, the truth, a lie, a story, ...)<span> or an infinitival <span style="font-size:78%;">(to wait, to call back later... etc.)</span> | ||
− | : | + | :;*<span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't tell <span style="color:#80A;">her</span> <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span>. |
− | : | + | :;*<span style="color:#A08;">Boris</span> didn't tell <span style="color:#80A;">her</span> <span style="color:#0A8;">to do anything</span>. |
Revision as of 21:30, 21 April 2020
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
Arguments (valence): say vs. tell
- Say requires a subject (S) and a direct object (COD), i.e. what is said. (ce qui est dit, ou ce qu'on dit)
- Boris didn't say anything.
- An optional indirect object (COI) (to whom it was said) is introduced with the operator/preposition "to".
- Boris didn't say anything to Lily.
- Tell requires a subject (S) and a indirect object (COI) (to whom it was said). to is not used to introduce the indirect object.
- Boris didn't tell her.
- 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 her anything.
- Boris didn't tell her to do anything.