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#2 (permalink) Mon Apr 08, 2013 18:28 pm Say vs.tell |
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(b) does not seem very likely ("what can you tell" would be more usual). (a) is possible, but it may not be the most natural question to ask in the scenario you have in mind. More information is needed about the context. |
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Dozy I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 17 Jun 2011 Posts: 7027 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Tue Apr 09, 2013 4:29 am Say vs.tell |
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Dozy, 1. Did she tell/(X: say) you her name? 2. Tell/(X: say) me (all) about (it)/(your story). We can't use 'say' in these sentences. Am I correct? |
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Allifathima I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 7062
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#4 (permalink) Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:50 am Re: Say vs.tell |
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The first difference between the two words is that 'to tell' is transitive, and takes a direct object: He told me all about... He told us how...
We couldn't use 'to say' here. 'to say' takes an indirect object: That's not what he told us. He told us that... That's not what he said to her. He said (to her) that...
Secondly, 'to say' has the sense of simply passing on information, whereas 'to tell' has the sense of intent on the part of the speaker when imparting information. I told her and told her, "Little Red", I said. "Don't go into the wood", I said. "Red Riding Hood - don't go into the wood!" But does a teenager listen to her parents these days?"
Can others refine my thinking? |
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Bazza I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 09 Mar 2013 Posts: 193 Location: Brit, Eng
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#5 (permalink) Tue Apr 09, 2013 10:04 am Re: Say vs.tell |
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Bazza wrote: | The first difference between the two words is that 'to tell' is transitive, and takes a direct object:
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I hate to be so nitpicking but this is not exactly right. "To tell" CAN be transitive, but it can be intransitive too.
http://thefreedictionary.com/tell _________________ "He who tries to establish his point by much yelling shows that his reasoning is weak"
-Jodi Ann Arias |
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Our Tort System I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 3886 Location: The big apple
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#6 (permalink) Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:02 am Say vs.tell |
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1. Did she tell you her name? Did she say her name? Did she say what her name was? Did she tell you what her name was?
2. Tell me about it. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#7 (permalink) Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:19 am Say vs.tell |
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1. Did she tell you her name? Did she say her name? Did she say what her name was? Did she tell you what her name was?
2. Tell me about it. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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to respond to vs responding to | 'Lie low' vs 'lay low' |