[Grammar] Differences

[Lukazero]

You can say "Tell me" but don't "tell it", or for instance "explain it" but not "explain me". Why is that?

 

[euncu]

Tell it to me
Explain it to me

 

[fighting spirit]

Using tell requires one of the following grammar constructions:
1. tell somebody something
2. tell something to somebody

For example:
He told everybody he saw the news.
He told the news to everybody.

Explainsomething (to somebody)
For example:
You should explain the rules of the game to your friends.

You cannot say explain me because in this case, you must use the above mentioned form to somebody.
So, instead of explain me, you can say, for example, Explain to me what to do in such situations

 

[euncu]

You can say "Tell me" but don't "tell it"

"Just tell it...
Tell it like it is.
Tell it..
Tell it like it feels.
Tell it to me, baby."

from the ZZ Top's album " Recycle "

 

[fighting spirit]

"Just tell it...

I would go for say it...

 

[euncu]

You can say "Tell me" but don't "tell it"

I would go for say it...

http://www.americancorpus.org/x3.asp?w11=tell&w12=it&r=

There is nothing wrong about "tell it".

 

[fighting spirit]

OK, maybe it's correct. I'm just saying what I would use.
I hardly ever can hear tell it without to somebody in addition.

 

[bhaisahab]

http://www.americancorpus.org/x3.asp?w11=tell&w12=it&r=

There is nothing wrong about "tell it".

OK, maybe it's correct. I'm just saying what I would use.
I hardly ever can hear tell it without to somebody in addition.

"Tell it like it is" is pedominantly American. "Say it like it is" is predominantly British.

 

[fighting spirit]

"Tell it like it is" is pedominantly American. "Say it like it is" is predominantly British.

Thanks a lot bhaisahab. Now everything's clear. ;-)