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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Use of so with tell
Is the word so combined with tell common among English natives?
the example is like this:
Teacher: My English teacher said English is very essential because it is an international English.
Me: Yes, I agree with you. My mother told me so. Or My mother told so to me. Or So my mother told me.
Are they common and natural for you?
the example is like this:
Teacher: My English teacher said English is very essential because it is an international English.
Me: Yes, I agree with you. My mother told me so. Or My mother told so to me. Or So my mother told me.
Are they common and natural for you?
Top answer
My mother told me so is the most natural in this context. My mother told so to me - not natural, sounds stilted. Co my mother told me.
- My mother told me so is the most natural in this context.
- My mother told so to me - not natural, sounds stilted.
- Co my mother told me.
- This is natural but has a slight different meaning.
- My mother told me so - she told you and you believe her.
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5 Answers
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My mother told me so is the most natural in this context.
My mother told so to me - not natural, sounds stilted.
Co my mother told me. This is natural but has a slight different meaning.
My mother told me so - she told you and you believe her.
So my mother told me - she told you but you are uncertain about the fact(s). This is reporting speech therefore you a
My mother told so to me - not natural, sounds stilted.
Co my mother told me. This is natural but has a slight different meaning.
My mother told me so - she told you and you believe her.
So my mother told me - she told you but you are uncertain about the fact(s). This is reporting speech therefore you a
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In the context you have provided, none of those would be used.
Teacher: English is very essential because it is an international language.
Me: Yes, I agree with you. My mother told me that, too.
In a different structure:
Teacher: Why do you think English is an international language?
Me: Because my mother told me so. / Well,
Teacher: English is very essential because it is an international language.
Me: Yes, I agree with you. My mother told me that, too.
In a different structure:
Teacher: Why do you think English is an international language?
Me: Because my mother told me so. / Well,
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Mister MicawberIn the context you have provided, none of those would be used.Teacher: English is very essential because it is an international language.Me: Yes, I agree with you. My mother told me that, too.In a different structure:Teacher: Why do you think English is an international language?Me: Because my mother told me so. / Well, so my mother told me.
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Then use Dave's explanation; that is good, too.
To me, 'someone told me so' is an answer to a question or an explanation for the speaker's own asserion. I cannot be clearer than that; it is just a nuance I sense. If any other member has a similar feeling, I wish they would explain it to me.
To me, 'someone told me so' is an answer to a question or an explanation for the speaker's own asserion. I cannot be clearer than that; it is just a nuance I sense. If any other member has a similar feeling, I wish they would explain it to me.
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Mister MicawberTo me, 'someone told me so' is an answer to a question or an explanation for the speaker's own asserion.
I think, at the moment, I am sticking to the Dave's explanation.
However, I will try to sense the nuance, although subtle, because I believe it more precise.
Thank you, you are very great.
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