say
part of speech
verb (say, says, said, saying); noun (a say); interjection (say — informal)
meaning for a pupil
1) To say is to speak words: «Say hello.» tree →
2) To say is to tell a fact or opinion: «The sign says stop». tree →
3) Say can mean «for example» or «let's imagine»: «Take a number, say 7». tree →
4) Your say is your chance to give your opinion: «Everyone gets a say». tree →
5) (casual) «I say», «say what?» and «you don't say» show surprise; «you don't say» is often sarcastic: I knew that already. tree →
6) (casual) «Says who?» challenges someone: who decided that? tree →
7) (rough) «Say that again and you're dead» is a threat in a row; it is usually anger, not a real plan. tree →
8) (formal) «State», «assert», «declare», «indicate» and «it is stated that» are stiff words for say. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah, "say" often introduces God's words to Moses to be passed on to Israel. The people's "Amen" is their agreement. Interpretation: Saying "Amen" is taken as accepting and confirming what was said, as with the curses and blessings announced on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. In the primary lessons: In maths: a word of the story; brings what someone tells, sometimes a number; «let's say» sets up an example. In English lessons: reported speech («she says that…»). In everyday life: «say please and thank you», «what does the clock say?», «have your say». In stories: «they say the house is haunted»; «easier said than done». In casual talk: «says who?», «I'm just saying». In the exam voice: «it is stated that», «the notice indicates». Phrases: «say sorry», «that is to say», «needless to say», «to say the least».
examples
- And all the people shall say: Amen. (Torah DEU.27.16, JPS 1917) tree →
- And all the people shall say: Amen.' (Torah DEU.27.26, JPS 1917) tree →
- Go say to them: Return ye to your tents. (Torah DEU.5.30, JPS 1917) tree →
- And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? (Writings JOB.22.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- And they say: 'How doth God know? (Writings PSA.73.11, JPS 1917) tree →
- But ye say: 'Wherein shall we return?' (Prophets MAL.3.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- Mia says she has 20 stickers. tree →
- Let's say each box holds 6 eggs. tree →
- What number does Tom say next? tree →
- Say how many are left. tree →
- Say please when you ask for something. tree →
- What does the clock say? tree →
- The sign says «Keep off the grass». tree →
- Everyone in the class gets a say. tree →
- my brother says the Sun goes round the Earth, right? (casual, wrong claim) tree →
- «It's 12.» «Says who? I counted 13.» (casual) tree →
- Say that again and I'll thump you. (rough) tree →
- It is stated that a pupil possesses 20 stickers; determine the number remaining upon the disposal of 7. (formal exam) tree →
- "With all my heart," says I. tree →
note
No operation; the numbers in what is said are the data. «Let's say» sets up an example. Forms: say, says (said «sez»), said («sed»). «Say» vs «tell»: you say something, you tell someone something. Trap: what someone says may be wrong — «my brother says 3 × 4 is 7» must be checked, not believed. Trap: if a speaker corrects herself («she has 5 — no, 6»), the last number counts. What people say online is not always true. Formal «it is stated that» = it says.
In the corpora
- And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
- And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;
- And the woman said unto the serpent: 'Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
- And the serpent said unto the woman: 'Ye shall not surely die;
- And the LORD God called unto the man, and said unto him: 'Where art thou?'
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «say» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.