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Timswisstuba Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

"Tell me" but not "tell to me" / "Explain to me

0 Can anyone clarify this? 02br
02br
00Why do we say "Tell me" and not "tell to me"? 02br
00but "Explain to me" and not "Explain me" 02br
02br
00I understand that we explain something TO someone, but don't we say "Tell me something" and not "Tell to me"? 02br
02br
02br
00What is the difference between: 02br
02br
00"Give the book to me" ....... and "Give me the book"? 02br
00If these sentences are both true can't we also say: 02br
02br
00"Please explain the difference to me" & "Please explain me the difference."? 02br
02br
00Are there any similar examples/combinations? 02br
02br
00Any help is greatly appreciated, 02br
02br
00Thanks! 0-
  

Top answer

0 Hi, Tim, 02br 02br 00Unfortunately there is no rule that can give non-native speakers a clue. You just have to learn verbs AND structures - that's the only way to know how they operate. 02br 00The reason for the different way we use verbs is calld VALENCY.

— Miche

  • 0 Hi, Tim, 02br 02br 00Unfortunately there is no rule that can give non-native speakers a clue.
  • You just have to learn verbs AND structures - that's the only way to know how they operate.
  • 02br 00The reason for the different way we use verbs is calld VALENCY.
  • It shows how words (in our case verbs) combine with other words.
  • e.
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5 Answers
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0 Hi, Tim, 02br
02br
00Unfortunately there is no rule that can give non-native speakers a clue. You just have to learn verbs AND structures - that's the only way to know how they operate. 02br
00The reason for the different way we use verbs is calld VALENCY. It shows how words (in our case verbs) combine with other words. 02br
02br
00TELL can t
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0 The verbs listed below are those that take a ditransitive construction, classified semantically. The verbs marked '*' are verbs that are similar in the meaning to the ditransitive verbs but cannot take a ditarnsitive construction. 02br
02br
00[1] give, pass, hand, lend (*donate, *contribute) 02br
00[2] send, ship, mail (*transport, *deliver, *courier, *messeng
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0 It is "nearly a rule" that the monosyllabic verbs take "me" and the polysyllabic verbs take "to me", at least in the majority of the verb classes illustrated. 02br
02br
00And in any case the mention of who gets the explanation is much less common in English than in many other languages. It's perfectly idiomatic to say, "Could you please explain how to do this?" You don't
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0 Hello CJ 02br
01blockquote
00It is "nearly a rule" that the monosyllabic verbs take "me" and the polysyllabic verbs take "to me", at least in the majority of the verb classes illustrated.12blockquote
12br
00Your syllable number theory seems better than my word source theory. I've tried to find exceptions but almost failed. The only two exc
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I've been reading all comments and I'd like to answer, what about say.
he said to Ellen....
wow, said Ellen
what happens with love?
thanks
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