Difference between revisions of "Say"

From Creolista!
Jump to: navigation, search
(say or tell ?)
(Syntax)
Line 11: Line 11:
 
===<span style=font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">say or tell ?</span>===
 
===<span style=font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">say or tell ?</span>===
 
:'''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>.
+
:*<span style="color:#A08;font-size:78%;">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;font-size:78%;">Boris</span> didn't say <span style="color:#0A8;">anything</span> <span style="color:#80A;">to Lily</span>.
  
 
:<hr>
 
:<hr>
  
 
:'''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>.
+
:*<span style="color:#A08;font-size:78%;">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;font-size:78%;">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>.
+
::*<span style="color:#A08;font-size:78%;">Boris</span> didn't tell <span style="color:#80A;">her</span> <span style="color:#0A8;">to do anything</span>.

Revision as of 20:37, 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

say or 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.