tell, tense

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

I have three questions to ask:

No.1
We can say 'to tell somebody something' and 'to tell somebody about something'. My question is: Is there any difference between the two? For example, is there anything different between the following two sentences:
a. Tell me your difficulties.
b. Tell me about your difficulties.

No.2
If I am asked to translate a sentence and the standard one is:

She has no choice but to lie down. Can I use past tense, e.i. She had no choice but to lie down?

No.3
Can I say 'She has no other choices but to lie down'?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[Teia]

Originally Posted by jiang

Dear teachers,

I have three questions to ask:

No.1
We can say 'to tell somebody something' and 'to tell somebody about something'. My question is: Is there any difference between the two? For example, is there anything different between the following two sentences:
a. Tell me your difficulties.
b. Tell me about your difficulties.

No.2
If I am asked to translate a sentence and the standard one is:

She has no choice but to lie down. Can I use past tense, e.i. She had no choice but to lie down?

No.3
Can I say 'She has no other choices but to lie down'?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

1.
Tell [ used with object]: to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.): to tell a story

Tell [ used without object] :to give an account or report: Tell me about your difficulties.

2. I don`t understand your second question. Were you asked to translate a sentence, to rephrase or to turn it into indirect speech?
If you have to turn it into indirect speech, the answer could be:

"She has no choice but to lie down", he says.
He said she had no choice but to lie down, or

He says she has no choice... or

He said she had no other choice /did not have any choice/ any other choices but to lie down.

[jiang]

Dear Teia,

Thank you very much for your explanation.
No.2 : I am asked to translate a sentence. Could you please explain which tense should be used?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Best wishes,

Jiang

Originally Posted by Teia

1.
Tell [ used with object]: to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.): to tell a story

Tell [ used without object] :to give an account or report: Tell me about your difficulties.

2. I don`t understand your second question. Were you asked to translate a sentence, to rephrase or to turn it into indirect speech?
If you have to turn it into indirect speech, the answer could be:

"She has no choice but to lie down", he says.
He said she had no choice but to lie down, or

He says she has no choice... or

He said she had no other choice /did not have any choice/ any other choices but to lie down.

[albertino]

Originally Posted by jiang

Dear teachers,

No.1
We can say 'to tell somebody(X) something' and 'to tell somebody about something'. My question is: Is there any difference between the two? For example, is there anything different between the following two sentences:
a. Tell me your difficulties(wrong). Cf. You tell a joke, tell a story.
b. Tell me about your difficulties(correct).

No.2
If I am asked to translate a sentence and the standard one is:

She has no choice(MAYBE THERE IS ONLY ONE CHOICE ) but to lie down. Can I use past tense, e.i. She had no choice but to lie down?(It depends on the context whether the action is in the past or the present.)

No.3
Can I say 'She has no other choices(MORE THAN ONE) but to lie down'?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.
(Not a teacher, comrade.)
Jiang

Hope that helps. (Not a teacher.)

[jiang]

Originally Posted by albertino

Hope that helps. (Not a teacher.)