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T509 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

say & tell

Hi, everyone. Help me with the question below.

a. The catalogue ( ) that this year's model is slightly cheaper than last year's.

1. says 2. speaks 3. talks 4. tells

Though my textbook says the answer is 1, I think 4 is also correct or grammatically possible.

Any suggestion, or lecture be welcome.
  

Top answer

T509 Hi, everyone. Help me with the question below. a.

— Moonwalker

  • T509 Hi, everyone.
  • Help me with the question below.
  • a.
  • The catalogue ( ) that this year's model is slightly cheaper than last year's.
  • 1.
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5 Answers
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T509Hi, everyone. Help me with the question below.

a. The catalogue ( ) that this year's model is slightly cheaper than last year's.

1. says 2. speaks 3. talks 4. tells

Though my textbook says the answer is 1, I think 4 is also correct or grammatically possible.

Any
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Thanks for the reply, Moonwalker.

But my dictionary says that tell must normally be followed by a personal object; say is used without a personal object.

I want to know how abnormal it is to use tell without a personal object.

Does it never happen?
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Thanks for the reply, Moonwalker.

But my dictionary says that tell must normally be followed by a personal object; say is used without a personal object.

I want to know how abnormal it is to use tell without a personal object.

Does it never happen?
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I want to know how abnormal it is to use tell without a personal object.
You can do this when you use tell idiomatically, as when "can tell" means "know". Here are some examples.

I can't tell the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool.
I can always tell when you're tired; your eyes get all red.
Little Sally is on
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...Or you can simply tell a story-- but an object of some kind is needed (even if it is elided, as in Is that a mushroom? I never can tell).
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