(1) 告诉，讲述(make known)[T+n，D+n+n，D+n+prep (to)，D+n+that，D+n+wh，D+n+wh-inf]：～stories/jokes 讲故事/笑话;～sb one's name/one's telephone number/the news/the story 告诉某人自己的名字/自己的电话号码/这消息/这个故事;～the news/the film/the whole story to one's friend (everyone) 把消息/那部电影/整个故事讲给朋友(每一个人)听;～sb that one will be back in half an hour 告诉某人自己将在半小时后回来;～sb that one has got another harvest 告诉某人自己又获得了丰收;～sb where one lives/where one is going 告诉某人自己住哪儿/正去哪儿;～sb how happy one is/how pleased one is to be here tonight/what one has been thinking 告诉某人自己多么快乐/今晚待在这儿多高兴/这段时间的想法;～sb how to get to the station/when to start out/which number bus to take 告诉某人怎么去车站/什么时候出发/要乘哪路公共汽车;〖同〗describe，report，inform;

(2)显示(indicate，inform or give information to (a person) about (sth))[T+n，D+n+n]：a gauge which～s sb the amount of petrol he has left/sb the price of petrol 可以向人显示剩余油量/油价的仪表;〖同〗show;

(3)讲，说(express or say in words)[T+n]：～the truth/lies/a lie 说实话/谎话/谎;to～(you) the truth 说真的，说实在的;实话告诉你吧;～tales (about sb)讲(某人)坏话;揭(某人)短;〖同〗declare，speak，utter，say;〖反〗hide，conceal，listen;

(4)吩咐，命令，让……(suggest or warn;command or order)[D+n+that，C+n+to-inf，D+n+wh-inf]：I told you that was dangerous but you didn't believe me and now you're in hospital. 我告诉过你那很危险，可你不相信。看，现在你住进医院了吧。～sb to wait/get here early/be quiet 叫某人等一下/早些到这儿/安静些;～sb what to do next 吩咐某人下一步该做什么;Do as you're told/what we told you. 按照吩咐/我们的吩咐去做。～sb to wait at the gate/be home by ten 告诉某人在大门口等/10点前回到家里;～sb not to worry about one/print that story 告诉某人不要为自己担心/刊登那件事;〖同〗order，command，request，direct，instruct;

(5)断定，确定(determine or predict)[I，T+that，T+wh-inf]：It's hard to～. 这事很难确定。You could～that he was fresh from college/he suspected nothing. 你可以断定他刚刚大学毕业/毫不怀疑。cannot～who'll win the race/what is going to happen 无法预知谁会赢得这场比赛/将会发生什么情况;can～when to change gear/which button to press 知道什么时候换档/按哪个按钮;

(6)区(辨)别(distinguish;see (a difference))[T+n，T+n+prep (from)，T+wh] (尤与can，could，be able to连用)：cannot～sb's exact age 无法判断某人的确切年龄;can～the difference between margarine and butter/sincerity and pretence 能区别人造黄油和真黄油/真诚和虚伪;can～sb from her (his) twin sister (brother) 分得出某人和她(他)的孪生姐妹(兄弟);～the true from the false (good from bad) 区分真伪(好坏);cannot～it's you/which of those two boys will do better in school 看不出是你/这两个孩子哪个在学校会表现得更好;〖同〗distinguish，recognize，identify，make out，see，find out;〖反〗confuse，mix up;

(7)产生效果，发生影响(be effective;be seen to give results)[I，I+prep (on)]：His unselfish work/Her good teaching/The new policy is beginning to～. 他无私的工作/她有效的教学方法/这项新政策开始产生效果。The strain is beginning to～on his health. 过度劳累开始对他的身体产生影响。 The man's age is beginning to～on him. 那男人开始显出老态。The recent rise in prices in beginning to～on low-salaried employees. 最近物价的上涨对低薪雇员产生了影响。〖同〗influence;

(8)坦白，泄露秘密(pass on information that is supposed to be kept secret)[I]：You mustn't～，or we'll get into trouble. 你一定不要讲出去，否则我们就麻烦了。promise not to～答应不讲出去;do not want to～about one's failure/the hiding place/stealing sth 不想把自己的失败/那藏身的地点/偷东西的事说出去;〖同〗confess，acknowledge;

(9)计算(数)(count the number;calculate)[T+n]：～the time 说出钟表指示的时间;～one's beads 数念珠念经;〖同〗count，number，calculate，estimate;

all told 总共：There was an audience of nine all told. 总共才有九位听众。

there's no telling 不可能知道：There's no～ing what he'll do if you make him angry. 如果你要惹他生气，不知道他会干出什么事呢。

tell off (v adv) 1)责备，斥责(vt)：The teacher used to～me off for not doing my homework. 老师过去常常因我不做作业而训斥我。2)指派(某人)做事：be told off to dig ditches/clean the camp 被派去挖沟/打扫营地;

tell on (v prep)告发(vt)：I'm late for work. Don't～on me. 我来晚了，别告发我。

→′telling adj 有效(力)的，显著的;′tellingly adv 有效地;显著地;͵telling-′off n 申斥，责备;′tell-tale n 搬弄是非的人;指示器;adj 泄露秘密的;

【注意】在英语中“告诉我这件事的一切”要译成“Tell me all about it”，不能译成“Tell me all of it”。

【辨异】tell与say、speak和talk的区别见SAY。