Say

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Revision as of 20:36, 21 April 2020 by Sashi (talk | contribs) (Syntax)
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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.