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This week we answer a question from Medard Luck.
本周我们来回答一个由梅达德·勒克提出的问题。
Medard writes: "Give the difference between ‘to tell' and ‘to say." -- Medard Luck
梅达德写道：请告诉我“to tell”和“to say”之间的区别。
Dear Medard,
亲爱的梅达德，
"To tell" and "to say" both describe a person communicating with others.
"To tell"和"To say"都描述一个人与他人进行交谈。
To understand the difference between the two, consider the words right after "tell" and "say."
要理解这两者之间的区别，请认真思考“tell”和“say”后面接的单词。
In general, the word right after "tell" describes whom the speaker is talking to.
一般来说，"tell"后面的单词描述的是说话者在和谁说话（说话的对象）。
The words right after "say" describe what the speaker is saying.
“say”后面的单词描述说话人正在说什么（说话的内容）。
Let us look at "tell" first.
让我们先看看“tell”这个单词。
Imagine you have a plan that you do not want anyone else to know.
假设你有一个不想让别人知道的计划。
When your parents ask you what you are doing tonight, you tell them a lie.
当你的父母问你今晚要做什么，你向他们撒了个谎。
But later, you tell your sister your secret.
但后来，你把你的秘密告诉了你妹妹。
In these examples, the listeners are "them" and "your sister."
在上述例子中，听者是“them”和“your sister”。
They are identified right after the word "tell."
它们接在单词“tell”之后可以马上被找到。
It would not be correct to write, "You say your parents a lie"; or "You say your sister a secret."
如果句子写成这样“You say your parents a lie”，或者“You say your sister a secret”，是不正确的。
If you want to use the word "say" correctly, try writing the information the speaker is communicating.
如果你想正确地使用“say”这个单词，试着写下说话人正在交谈的信息。
For example, when you talk to your sister, you say that you are leaving the house after dark.
例如，当你和你姐姐说话时，你说你要在天黑后离开家。
You add, "Don't say anything to Mom and Dad!"
你还说，“不要对父母透露任何消息！”
Here, "say" is followed by the words "that" and "anything."
在这里，say后面跟that和anything。
These words commonly follow the word "say," along with "where," "when," "something," and "to."
这些词通常跟在say后面，后面还可以接“where”，“when”， “something”和“to”。
Lines of dialogue also often come after "say."
say后面经常会接几句对话。
Here are some other examples to help you practice.
这里有一些其他的例子来帮助你进行练习。
Imagine that one day after work, you meet some friends for a meal.
想象有一天下班后，你和几个朋友一起吃饭。
When your first friend arrives at the restaurant, she is very unhappy.
当你的第一个朋友来到餐馆时，她很不高兴。
"Tell me what is wrong," you urge.
“告诉我怎么了，”你催促道。
She says, "My co-worker told me I talk too loudly. He says to be more quiet."
她说：“我的同事告诉我，我说话声音太大了。他说要安静一点。”
You answer, "That wasn't very nice. Say where I can meet him, and I will talk to him."
你回答说：“那不太好。告诉我在哪儿能见到他，我去跟他谈谈。”
A little later, another friend joins you at the restaurant.
过了一会儿，另一个朋友也来了。
He tells you how happy he is, so you ask why.
他告诉你他很开心，所以你问其原因。
He says, "I took the bus here and the payment machine was broken, so the driver said all rides are free."
他说：“我坐公共汽车来的，付款机坏了，所以司机说这趟免费。”
"He told you that?" you answer. "That was nice of him!"
“他跟你说的？”你回答道。“他真好。”
Then a third friend arrives at the restaurant.
然后第三个朋友来到了餐馆。
She says that she has some very big news.
她说她有非常重大的消息要宣布。
"Just say when you are ready to hear it," she jokes.
她开玩笑说：“准备好了就说。”
"Tell us!" the group shouts.
“告诉我们！”一群人喊道。
She says, "I'm six months pregnant!"
她说："我怀孕六个月了！”
"Six months!" you answer. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
“六个月！”你说道。“你为什么不早点说呢？”
She says, "I wanted to tell you all at the same time. I was waiting for us to get together."
她说：“我想同时告诉你们。我一直在等我们能聚在一起的时候。”
Do you see the pattern?
找到规律了吗？
"Tell" is almost always followed by a word identifying the listener.
“Tell”一词后面总是紧跟着说话的对象（听者）。
And "say" is almost always followed by the words the speaker is saying.
“say”后总是跟着说话人所说的内容。
And that's Ask a Teacher!
以上就是本期名师答疑的全部内容。
I'm Pete Musto.
我是皮特·穆托。
