Difference between revisions of "Say"

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(say or tell ?)
(Syntax)
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:<hr>
 
:<hr>
  
:'''Tell''' requires a <span style="color:#A08;font-variant:small-caps;">sender (S)</span>  and a <span style="color:#80A;font-variant:small-caps;">receiver <span style="font-size:75%;">(''destinataire'')</span></span> (''whom'', ''us'', ''them'', etc.).   
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:'''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 20:53, 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 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.).
to is 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.