Hi everyone, I’m Nick Shepherd, welcome. This is video number three in the series on
verb complementation. If you’re not sure what that is, check out video number one.
There’s a link below.
I’ve added this video to my list, it’s on SAY and TELL. We use say, either in direct speech, like
this: I said: “I’m going.” or reported speech, like this: I said (that)
I was going. We use tell like this: I told her (that) I
was going. Or I told him to go.
Or I told them what to do, or how to do it, or where to go and more.
So with tell, we have the person you’re telling, in these examples it’s HER, HIM
and THEM. With say, we don’t (but never say never
. And one more thing: THAT in these sentences is optional, and we often don’t use it.
Now, here’s a little story.
Lola and Mick are driving along when Mick notices they’re running out of petrol - or
gas, if you like. He sees a policeman.
Ask him the way to a petrol station
Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the nearest petrol station?
She comes back to the car.
What did he say?
He told us to drive to the next corner and turn left.
Mick drives off
No, no, I said left.
Sorry. Did he tell you how far it is?
Yes, he said it was just around the corner.
So, let’s look at the words. First, tell. There were three sentences in the story,
and we have me, and us, and you each time.
And now say. And this time we don’t know who they were speaking to.
Now it’s your turn, we have say and tell,
and here are four possible complementations.
I’ll do the first line:
he says I’m coming is OK, but not with tell.
Now, you have 10 seconds to think about the others.
You can pause the video if you like.
OK, here are the answers. With ‘him to do it’, you can’t use say, but ‘I tell him to do it’ is OK.
‘I said that it’s easy’ is OK, but not with tell.
I tell him that it’s easy is OK, but not say.
OK, that’s all for today, hope you found it useful,
thanks for watching, and bye for now.