Dire - Raconter en anglais - Comment conjuguer le verbe "to tell" | How to conjugate the verb "to tell"

"To tell" signifie "dire" et "raconter".

"Tell" est un verbe irrégulier, ce qui signifie que l'on ne peut pas ajouter la terminaison "ed" pour former le prétérit.

to tell - told (p) - told (pp)
  • La conjugaison au prétérit de "to tell" est "told".
  • Au participe passé, la conjugaison de "to tell" est "told".
  • Au participe présent, la conjugaison de "to tell" est "telling".
  • La conjugaison au présent simple de "to tell" est: I/You/We/They tell - he/she/it tells.

En français, vous dites quelque chose à quelqu'un.
En anglais, avec le verbe "to tell" la préposition "à" ne se traduit pas.

You tell someone something.

-> I told my teacher [that] I didn't do my homework.
-> I need to tell Sam that I can't go to his party.
You can tell a story, a tale (un comte).

-> Let me tell you about the story of Robin Hood.
-> This is the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Once upon a time (il était une fois...)

You can tell a lie.

I told my mom I was at school but I went to skate park instead.

You tell someone to do something or not to do something.

->I tell you to be quiet.

->I told you to do your homework yesterday.

->They told us to go back home.

how to tell when to use TO or for | Quand utiliser les prépositions TO or for

In English

TO (movement, direction, destination, cause, effect)

After an action verb, the Preposition "TO" is used to express

  • motion, directions, destinations
I am walking TO the theater
This was sent TO my mother yesterday
We went TO the movies
Please send it back TO me as soon as possible (ASAP).

  • a limit or an ending point
The stock prices rose up TO 100 dollars, dropped down to a low 70 and then settled a little over 80

  • a link, a relation
Attached please find my application to your school
I am writing to you in response TO your ad
I need some pepper TO spice this dish up.

Tricky verbs and exceptions

  • to send to/ to send for
To send a message to someone
To send for someone.
  • to give to/ to give something to someone for someonelse
Give this to John.
This is for John.
  • to do to/ to do for
What did you do to him ? Qu'est-ce que tu lui as fait?
What did you do for him? Qu'est-ce que tu as fait pour lui?
  • TO GO
"To go" signifie aller
"To go to" signifie aller à, vers, se diriger, se rendre à
Cependant le "à" ne se traduit pas dans les cas suivants:
  • to go home
  • to go abroad
  • to go somewhere else
"To get to" signifie se rendre à (lieu, adresse)
  • How do I get TO Staten Island please (Comment puis-je me rendre à Staten Island)?
  • I would like to go TO Australia (j'aimerais/je souhaiterais aller en Australie)

FOR (purpose, time, duration)

The preposition "For" is used to indicate

  • the purpose of something, what it is meant for, the reason why something is done

I baked a cake FOR your birthday
She has been studying hard FOR her finals

  • the reason for something (For can replace "on your behalf" or "about")
I am so happy for you
We feel deeply sorry for your loss

  • time or duration:

I've been waiting for over an hour.

In French

TO (mouvement, vers, direction, cause/effet)


Avant un verbe la préposition TO s'emploie pour:

  • indiquer qu'un verbe est à l'infinitif: to go, to be, to live

Après un verbe la préposition TO s'emploie pour:

  • pour exprimer, un mouvement, une direction une destination

I am going TO the theater (Je vais au théatre)
I'm going TO Paris (je vais à Paris)
I'm taking the train TO Paris. (NOT FOR Paris) (je me rends à paris)

FOR (but, raison et durée)

  • La préposition "For" peut être utilisée" pour exprimer le but ou l'intention mais uniquement devant un nom ou un pronom.

Ex: I bought this present FOR you.
I bought this present FOR my mom.
This letter has just arrived FOR Jack.

Attention: Si le but ou l'intention sont une action (et donc un verbe) il faut utiliser TO

Ex: I bought ths present TO give it to my mom.
This letter was sent TO Jack.
I intend TO attend this meeting.

  • La préposition For s'emploie également exprimer une durée

I have been working for two hours and I still haven't finished (completed) my task.
 
  • pour modifier le sens d'un verbe
Le verbe TO LOOK peut revêtir plusieurs sens. Son sens premier est "regarder".  Lorsqu'on ajoute une préposition le sens originel s'estompe et se transforme en une expression.

To look for: chercher quelque chose ou quelqu'un
Ex: I'm looking for my keys

To look to: chercher à (faire quelque chose)
ex: I'm looking to buy an ancient book on witchcraft.

To look up to : admirer quelqu'un
I look up to you. You're my role model.