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Member
Posts: 149 
Location: Toronto
Location: Toronto
September 23rd, 2005, 03:04 PM
So, in this usage, "to say", is intransitive, that is, it does not need to take an object. The phrase, "What did you want to say", does not have an object (there is no one you're saying something to).
Whereas with, "to tell", the verb is transitive, and must always have an affected object. So you could say the verb is really, "to tell X", where X is any pronoun/person. To tell him/her/me/you, etc., etc., etc. There is always an object (some person) affected by the telling.
Quoting
The difference between the verbs, "to say", and "to tell" relate to whether they take an object.
And we would say...."What did you want to say?", not "What did you want to tell?". English is bizarre like that, really they both mean the same thing, but we would never use tell like that. We only use "to tell" when you are going to say something to someone. Like Tell me, tell him, he told her....etc....
but you can use "to say" anytime....I think....like I said, he said, I meant to say, I want to say, I said to him.....etc.......
but you can use "to say" anytime....I think....like I said, he said, I meant to say, I want to say, I said to him.....etc.......
So, in this usage, "to say", is intransitive, that is, it does not need to take an object. The phrase, "What did you want to say", does not have an object (there is no one you're saying something to).
Whereas with, "to tell", the verb is transitive, and must always have an affected object. So you could say the verb is really, "to tell X", where X is any pronoun/person. To tell him/her/me/you, etc., etc., etc. There is always an object (some person) affected by the telling.
Member
Posts: 71
Location: Ontario
Location: Ontario
September 23rd, 2005, 05:06 PM
In french there is only one verb which exists that is used as the translation for "to tell" and "to say", and that is the verb, "Dire". So it is very difficult for francophone people who learn english to know when to use "say", or "tell", since they are the same in french.
In french there are two verbs, savoir and connaitre, which can both be translated to english as the verb "to know". It is similarily difficult for people like me, who are learning french, to know when to use "savoir" or when to use "connaitre".
Example:
connait-tu cette chanson?
do you know that song?
sais-tu si il va pleuvoir?
do you know if its going to rain?
Connaitre is used when you use know and a proper name. And also when you use know in the sense of "know of" something...
Savoir is used when you are talking about knowledge of a fact.
It's very hard to use the correct one, and I can't do it in mid-conversation.
In french there is only one verb which exists that is used as the translation for "to tell" and "to say", and that is the verb, "Dire". So it is very difficult for francophone people who learn english to know when to use "say", or "tell", since they are the same in french.
In french there are two verbs, savoir and connaitre, which can both be translated to english as the verb "to know". It is similarily difficult for people like me, who are learning french, to know when to use "savoir" or when to use "connaitre".
Example:
connait-tu cette chanson?
do you know that song?
sais-tu si il va pleuvoir?
do you know if its going to rain?
Connaitre is used when you use know and a proper name. And also when you use know in the sense of "know of" something...
Savoir is used when you are talking about knowledge of a fact.
It's very hard to use the correct one, and I can't do it in mid-conversation.
