* "say your idea"

nekocat

先輩

3 Apr 2007

265

11

• 3 Jul 2007

• #1

One big mystery of English: Why don't you say "*say your idea" but "express your idea" or "voice your idea"? Up until 10 minutes ago I've had no doubt about "say your idea."

Could you explain why you can't say "say your idea"?

* say your idea
express your idea
voice your idea​

 

Tomii515

やった～！

16 Feb 2006

1,206

21

• 3 Jul 2007

• #2

Umm...

I can't really explain, but if you're talking about an idea to do something you could say "Tell me your idea"... or you're the one with the idea, "I'm going to tell you my idea/ Can I tell you my idea?"

hope this helps~

And I'm sure there is SOME ways you can say "say your idea", i just cant think of one

i dont know >_<

 

G

Geostigma

Sempai

21 Jun 2007

320

15

• 3 Jul 2007

• #3

If someone told me to "say my idea", I wouldn't think it was wrong. Sounds fine to me, but "express your idea" or "explain your idea" is more common probably. I guess it's because in order for someone to understand an idea that someone else has, you need to go into detail about what it's about. This may be why "explain" and "express" are more common than "say".

 

bakaKanadajin

先輩

30 Apr 2007

1,173

84

• 3 Jul 2007

• #4

In English there are certain associations that exist between verbs and nouns. There are some strange ones like:

Make your peace
Say your bit
Give a speech

This is one of those cases where you can't really say an idea, since the concept of an idea is something thats complex and needs discussion or explanation. 'Say' is too basic a verb. It would be slightly off, like 'say your description of the movie you saw last night' or 'say that story again'. Unfortunately, in English you've got to 'give a description' and 'tell a story', there is no universal verb. For idea, I'd use 'describe' or 'explain' personally.

Anyway, some native speakers say it, some don't, its not really a matter of right or wrong unless you are being technical. What exists in real speech isn't always what's technically right in the text books.

 

nekocat

先輩

3 Apr 2007

265

11

• 3 Jul 2007

• Thread starter
• #5

すばらしい回答です！とってもよく理解できました。 say は単純な名詞を目的語にとることができないというわけだったんですね。

 

pugtm

Jewish Samurai

21 Apr 2007

567

13

• 4 Jul 2007

• #6

You could say "tell me your idea".

 

EmperorHirohito

Who is Number One?

30 Apr 2007

1,548

40

• 4 Jul 2007

• #7

Also another way would be to say 'Explain your idea to me'.

Or you could say 'Let me know about your idea'.

 

Sarapva

Midnight and Snowflake

25 Feb 2007

1,072

48

• 4 Jul 2007

• #8

The only thing I can think of where "say" is used that way is in "Say your name", or, "Could you say your name again?" Maybe it's because it's only a couple of words and not something more complex, like an idea would be. There are so many of these complicated things in English that I'd never thought of before!

 

pugtm

Jewish Samurai

21 Apr 2007

567

13

• 4 Jul 2007

• #9

say has a conotation of an action being done to a group or to more formal or less intimate setting. Say implies more of throwing it out there as apposed to tell .

 

Masamune_74

先輩

3 Jun 2007

72

1

• 6 Jul 2007

• #10

I would go with "what is your idea", or "what is your opinion"