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Sarnga1157 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Told followed by "to"
Hello All,
I remember learning in school that the word told should not be followed by to.
It used to be "said to" as in "My father said that to me", or similar structures. But I have been seeing that "told to" has been in use a lot recently, as in "He told me to clean the floor".
Is it correct usage? Should it not be "He asked me to..." ? But I see it used a lot recently even officially.
And, further, can "told to" also be used together as in "I was told to do this.. "? Or should it again be "I was asked to do"?
Thanks,
Prasanna
I remember learning in school that the word told should not be followed by to.
It used to be "said to" as in "My father said that to me", or similar structures. But I have been seeing that "told to" has been in use a lot recently, as in "He told me to clean the floor".
Is it correct usage? Should it not be "He asked me to..." ? But I see it used a lot recently even officially.
And, further, can "told to" also be used together as in "I was told to do this.. "? Or should it again be "I was asked to do"?
Thanks,
Prasanna
Top answer
What you learnt at school was wrong. " But there is a difference in meaning between "told" and "asked". "told" is stronger and more forceful.
- What you learnt at school was wrong.
- " But there is a difference in meaning between "told" and "asked".
- "told" is stronger and more forceful.
- It means that someone is ordering or commanding you to do something.
- "asked" is more polite.
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1 Answers
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What you learnt at school was wrong. The following are both fine:
"He told me to (do something)."
"I was told to (do something)."
These are also fine:
"He asked me to (do something)."
"I was asked to (do something)."
But there is a difference in meaning between "told" and "asked".
"told" is stronger and more forceful. It means that s
"He told me to (do something)."
"I was told to (do something)."
These are also fine:
"He asked me to (do something)."
"I was asked to (do something)."
But there is a difference in meaning between "told" and "asked".
"told" is stronger and more forceful. It means that s
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