Betekenis van tell In het Nederlands

• 0 to say something to someone, often giving them information or instructions:

  • Tell me about your holiday then.

  • [ + two objects ] Can you tell me how to get to the library?

  • [ + obj + (that) ] Did you tell anyone (that) you were coming to see me?

  • [ + obj + speech ] "I'm leaving you," she told him.

  • [ + obj + to infinitive ] I told her to go home.

  • formal He told us of his extraordinary childhood.

  • I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help (= I am extremely grateful).

  • She's always telling lies.

  • Your classmates won't trust you if you're always telling tales, Alvin.

  • How do you know she's telling the truth?

  • To tell (you) the truth, I didn't understand a word of what he was saying.

• 1 to know, recognize, or be certain:

  • "He's Dutch." "How can you tell?"

  • [ + (that) ] I could tell (that) you were unhappy.

  • What does the survey tell us about the lives of teenagers?

  • This coffee is about half the price of that one and yet you really can't tell the difference.

  • At the fair, there was a lady who told your fortune.

  • My daughter has just learned to tell the time.

  • There is no telling what the future will hold for them.

  • Who knows what will happen to Peter and me in the future - you can never tell.

• 2 to have an effect:

  • She's been under a lot of stress recently and it's starting to tell.

• 3 to say something to someone, esp. to give instructions or information; report:

  • [ T ] Can you tell me how to get to the bus station?

  • [ I ] She told about her travels overseas.

• 4 to show or give information in ways other than talking:

  • This light tells you when the battery is low.

• 5 to order someone to do something:

  • I told you to be home by eleven.

• 6 to know or recognize:

  • [ I ] It’s hard to tell which is better.

  • [ T ] It’s easy to tell a robin by its red breast.

  • [ + (that) clause ] I could tell that you were unhappy.

  • [ T ] This one is supposed to be better, but how can you tell the difference?