0 to say something to someone, often giving them information or instructions -- 講述，說；告訴
[ + two objects ] Can you tell me how to get to the library? 請問去圖書館怎麼走？
[ + obj + (that) ] Did you tell anyone (that) you were coming to see me? 你有沒有跟任何人說起要來看我？
[ + obj + speech ] "I'm leaving you," she told him. 「我要離開你，」她跟他說。
[ + obj + to infinitive ] I told her to go home. 我叫她回家。
formal He told us of his extraordinary childhood. 他給我們講述了他不尋常的童年。
I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help (= I am extremely grateful). 我對你的幫助感激不盡。
She's always telling lies. 她老是說謊。
Your classmates won't trust you if you're always telling tales, Alvin. 阿爾文，如果你老是打小報告，你的同學會不信任你的。
To tell (you) the truth, I didn't understand a word of what he was saying. 說實話，他說的我一點聽不懂。
1 to know, recognize, or be certain -- 知道；辨別；確定
"He's Dutch." "How can you tell?" 「他是荷蘭人。」「你怎麼知道？」
[ + (that) ] I could tell (that) you were unhappy. 我看得出你當時很不高興。
What does the survey tell us about the lives of teenagers? 這次調查給我們提供了有關青少年生活的什麼情況？
This coffee is about half the price of that one and yet you really can't tell the difference. 這種咖啡的價格差不多是那種的一半，而你根本分辨不出它們有甚麼不同。
At the fair, there was a lady who told your fortune. 市集裡有個算命的女人。
There is no telling what the future will hold for them. 不知道他們的未來會怎麼樣。
Who knows what will happen to Peter and me in the future - you can never tell. 誰知道彼得和我將來會怎麼樣呢——誰也無法預料。
2 to have an effect -- 產生效果，產生影響
They wouldn't tell me how they had got my address.
No-one told me she was ill.
I could tell from her expression that something serious had happened.
You can tell it's autumn because the leaves have started to fall.
