VOA慢速英语2019--‘Say’ Something, ‘Tell’ Someone

 

This week we answer a question from Medard Luck. Medard writes:

Question:

“Give the difference between ‘to tell’ and ‘to say.” – Medard Luck

Answer:

Dear Medard,

“To tell” and “to say” both describe a person communicating with others. To understand the difference between the two, consider the words right after “tell” and “say.”

In general, the word right after “tell” describes whom the speaker is talking to. The words right after “say” describe what the speaker is saying.

Let us look at “tell” first. Imagine you have a plan that you do not want anyone else to know. When your parents ask you what you are doing tonight, you tell them a lie. But later, you tell your sister your secret.

In these examples, the listeners² are “them” and “your sister.” They are identified³ right after the word “tell.” It would not be correct to write, “You say your parents a lie”; or “You say your sister a secret.”

If you want to use the word “say” correctly, try writing the information the speaker is communicating. For example, when you talk to your sister, you say that you are leaving the house after dark. You add, “Don’t say anything to Mom and Dad!”

Here, “say” is followed by the words “that” and “anything.” These words commonly follow the word “say,” along with “where,” “when,” “something,” and “to.” Lines of dialogue also often come after “say.”

Here are some other examples to help you practice. Imagine that one day after work, you meet some friends for a meal. When your first friend arrives at the restaurant, she is very unhappy. “Tell me what is wrong,” you urge⁴.

She says, “My co-worker⁵ told me I talk too loudly. He says to be more quiet.”

You answer, “That wasn’t very nice. Say where I can meet him, and I will talk to him.”

A little later, another friend joins you at the restaurant. He tells you how happy he is, so you ask why.

He says, “I took the bus here and the payment⁶ machine was broken⁷, so the driver said all rides are free.”

“He told you that?” you answer. “That was nice of him!”

Then a third friend arrives at the restaurant. She says that she has some very big news. “Just say when you are ready to hear it,” she jokes.

“Tell us!” the group shouts.

She says, “I’m six months pregnant⁸!”

“Six months!” you answer. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

She says, “I wanted to tell you all at the same time. I was waiting for us to get together.”

Do you see the pattern⁹? “Tell” is almost always followed by the listener¹. And “say” is almost always followed by the words the speaker is saying.

And that’s Ask a Teacher!

I’m Pete Musto.

Words in This Story

dialogue – n. talk or speech involving¹⁰ two people or a small group of people between two or more people

practice – v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it

joke(s) – v. to say things that are meant to cause laughter¹¹

pattern – n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

1 listener   

n.听众；收听者

参考例句：

• I'm a regular listener to her show.我经常收听她的节目。
• She became an attentive listener.她变成了一个专心致志的聆听者。

2 listeners   

n.倾听者，收听者( listener的名词复数 )；听众

参考例句：

• the demographics of radio listeners 电台听众统计数据
• The singer's high notes jarred on the ears of her listeners. 那位歌手的高音让听众们觉得刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 identified   

v.认出( identify的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；确认；辨认

参考例句：

• Now that the problem has been identified, appropriate action can be taken. 现在既已找出问题的症结，即可采取适当行动。
• The police quickly identified the real culprits. 警方很快查出了真正的罪犯。

4 urge   

n.冲动，推动力，迫切的要求；vt.驱策，力劝，力陈，推动；vi.强烈要求

参考例句：

• He has an urge to become a film star.他非常希望成为电影明星。
• We should constantly urge ourselves on to study hard.我们要经常鞭策自己努力学习。

5 co-worker   

n.共同工作者；同事

参考例句：

• I went to visit my co-worker on Saturday.周六去同事家做客了。
• My new co-worker comes to work late every day.我的新同事每天上班都迟到。

6 payment   

n.付款，支付，偿还，偿还，报应

参考例句：

• I gave ten pounds in payment for the goods I bought.我买那些东西付了10英镑。
• This last payment will wipe out your debt to me.这最后一笔付款将了结你欠我的债务。

7 broken   

adj.坏掉的，患病的，被制服的，断掉的；vbl.break的过去分词

参考例句：

• He is mending a broken cup.他在修补破杯子。
• Something was broken in my engine.我的发动机里有个东西损坏了。

8 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

9 pattern   

n.图案，模范，榜样；型，式样；样品；图样；vt.摹制，仿造；以图案装饰

参考例句：

• This box is made after a new pattern.这箱子是仿照新样式制作的。
• Why should all writers follow a pattern?为什么作家都遵循一个模式写作呢？

10 involving   

表明（某人参与了罪行等）( involve的现在分词 )； 使参与； 牵涉； 使专心于

参考例句：

• A girl was killed yesterday in a crash involving a stolen car. 昨天有一女孩在一桩涉及窃车的撞车事故中丧生。
• He tried to be not involving himself in this endless argument. 他尽力使自己不介入这场没完没了的争论。

11 laughter   

n.笑，笑声

参考例句：

• I don't know how my story caused so much laughter.我不知我的故事怎么引起如此大笑。
• The audience gave way to uncontrollable bursts of laughter.听众忍不住发出一阵阵笑声。