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ESL forum > Ask for help > I need your help!    

I need your help!



vlay
Peru

I need your help!
 
Hello every body. I would like you to help me, please I am not sure if these  expressions  are correct: "Peter said not to answer the phone". or "Peter said to me not to answer the phone".
Or maybe both are incorrect, could you tell me pls the correct expression?
Thanks in advanced. Have a wonderful day.

2 Jul 2010      





tancredo
Portugal

I think the correct one should be:
Peter told me not to answer the phone.
 
Have a nice weekend!

2 Jul 2010     



vlay
Peru

Thank you tancredo but how can I say the same expression using "Say?" bcz I am making a worksheet with the differences between say and tell and I�d like to give my students examples with the use on "say" (in repoted speech) but in negative form.

2 Jul 2010     



gloriawpai
Brazil

Both are correct but a little difference in meaning.

Peter said to me, in this case he said just to me
Peter said not to ... , in this case he said to someone or to everyone that were there with him.

2 Jul 2010     



yanogator
United States

Although all three are correct, we wouldn �t say, "Peter said to me not to answer the phone". As tancredo said, we use "told" with a person in reported speech.
 
So, the realistic choices are
Peter said not to answer the phone.
Peter told me not to answer the phone.
 
Another option is "Peter said that I shouldn �t answer the phone".
 
Bruce

2 Jul 2010     



Adel A
Egypt

you can say
peter told me/ordered me/advised me  not to answer the phone

of course the native speakers are much better so their answers   can be different from the famous or traditional ones

2 Jul 2010     



Apodo
Australia

Peter said not to answer the phone. - This is perfectly OK.
 
You could use Peter said to me if you were reporting the actual words spoken.
 
Peter said to me, �Don �t answer the phone. � So I let it ring and ring.

3 Jul 2010     



vlay
Peru

Thank u so much !!!Big smile

3 Jul 2010