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Lilicay Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary
tell or know ?
can one use tell instead of know?
example:
a. You can know that he is from Japan because of his accent.
a.You can't know that bread is cheap.
b.You can tell that he is from Japan because of his accent.
b. You can't tell that bread is cheap.
Thanks in advance.
example:
a. You can know that he is from Japan because of his accent.
a.You can't know that bread is cheap.
b.You can tell that he is from Japan because of his accent.
b. You can't tell that bread is cheap.
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Hi, You have to use "tell" in that context. "tell" means "discover by observation" in your context, so it can be considered as an ability and therefore be used after "can", but "know" is not an ability so it cannot be used. Hamid
- Hi, You have to use "tell" in that context.
- "tell" means "discover by observation" in your context, so it can be considered as an ability and therefore be used after "can", but "know" is not an ability so it cannot be used.
- Hamid
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3 Answers
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Hi,
You have to use "tell" in that context. "tell" means "discover by observation" in your context, so it can be considered as an ability and therefore be used after "can", but "know" is not an ability so it cannot be used.
Hamid
You have to use "tell" in that context. "tell" means "discover by observation" in your context, so it can be considered as an ability and therefore be used after "can", but "know" is not an ability so it cannot be used.
Hamid
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Lilicaya. You can know that he is from Japan because of his accent. a.You can't know that bread is cheap.No.
Lilicayb.You can tell that he is from Japan because of his accent. b. You can't tell that bread is cheap.OK - as corrected:
b. You can't tell (by tasting it) that that bread is cheap.
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