tell
1.在下面一句里tell把直接引语做宾语：
- He often tells me: 'I shall devote myself to serving the people.' 这种用法不很普通，最好把tells改作says to。
2.在下面一句里tell没有间接宾语，而把以that引导的从句做宾语：
- He often tells that he is going to achieve success.
这种用法不很普通，最好把tells改作says，或在tells后面加上间接宾语，如me，her或his friends。
但下面一句里的tell that...很自然，tell作“了解”或“明白”解：
- His manner is quite normal again now, and no-one could tell that only a few minutes ago he was shaken by such a great emotion.
3.下面每句里的tell或told都有双宾语（注意斜体字）：
- Please tell me the address of your school.
- She did not care to tell me her age.
- I did not tell him anything about you.
- He did not tell me his business.
- She asked him to tell her the date of his wedding.
- You had better tell me everything.
- They told us their experiences in certain foreign countries.
- You must tell me the fact.
- I am afraid he has told you a falsehood.
- She refused to tell me her feelings about the incident.
- He said he could tell me my fortune.
- I will tell you all the information I have got.
- He is not known ever to have told us a lie.
- She told us her name at the beginning of her story.
- They promised to tell us any news they might have.
- He told me nothing about his adventure.
- You must tell us the number of your room.
- I wish you would tell me your opinion.
- She told me a secret some time ago.
- He said he wanted to tell me something.
- He used to tell his children a story every evening.
- After dinner she told us a long tale.
- In his letter he told her his thoughts of the matter.
- Could you tell me the time?
- She told me all her troubles.
- He has told us all the truth.
- I will tell you my views on the question when I write next.
- Will you kindly tell me the way?
但下面每句里的tell或told都没有双宾语：
- She asked him to tell her about his wedding. （比较She asked him to tell her the date of his wedding）
- They told us of certain foreign countries. （比较They told us their experiences in certain foreign countries）
- She refused to tell me about the incident. （比较She refused to tell me her feelings about the incident）
- In his letter he told her of several matters. （比较In his letter he told her his thoughts of the matter）
4.下面各句都不合习惯：
- He has nothing to tell to her.
- I have something to tell to you.
- What did he tell to you?
该把每句里的to删去，或把tell改作say。
5.下面两句里的you在英国不可省去，在美国似乎往往省去：
- I cannot tell you how glad I am.
- I cannot tell you how sorry I am.
在英国cannot tell（后面没有you）只作“不能了解”或“不懂”解。例如：I cannot tell how this machine works. 和I cannot tell what is the matter with him.
6.Tell him to read the story是“叫他读这故事”。Tell him how to read the story是“告诉他怎样读这故事”。
7.Tell him from me that I want him是“告诉他我说我要他（来）”。
8.A story tells of the bravery of a little girl是“有一个故事讲到一个女孩子的勇敢”。A story is told of the bravery of a little girl是“有人讲关于一个女孩子的勇敢的一个故事”。
