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# say

«say» in Mova's school dictionary: **to speak words: «Say hello.»** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (say, says, said, saying); noun (a say); interjection (say — informal)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To say is to speak words: «Say hello.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m1)

2) To say is to tell a fact or opinion: «The sign says stop». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m2)

3) Say can mean «for example» or «let's imagine»: «Take a number, say 7». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m3)

4) Your say is your chance to give your opinion: «Everyone gets a say». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m4)

5) (casual) «I say», «say what?» and «you don't say» show surprise; «you don't say» is often sarcastic: I knew that already. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m5)

6) (casual) «Says who?» challenges someone: who decided that? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m6)

7) (rough) «Say that again and you're dead» is a threat in a row; it is usually anger, not a real plan. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m7)

8) (formal) «State», «assert», «declare», «indicate» and «it is stated that» are stiff words for say. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#m8)

### sense in the lessons

In maths: a word of the story; brings what someone tells, sometimes a number; «let's say» sets up an example. In English lessons: reported speech («she says that…»). In everyday life: «say please and thank you», «what does the clock say?», «have your say». In stories: «they say the house is haunted»; «easier said than done». In casual talk: «says who?», «I'm just saying». In the exam voice: «it is stated that», «the notice indicates». Phrases: «say sorry», «that is to say», «needless to say», «to say the least».

### examples

- Mia says she has 20 stickers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x1)
- Let's say each box holds 6 eggs. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x2)
- What number does Tom say next? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x3)
- Say how many are left. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x4)
- Say please when you ask for something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x5)
- What does the clock say? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x6)
- The sign says «Keep off the grass». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x7)
- Everyone in the class gets a say. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x8)
- my brother says the Sun goes round the Earth, right? (casual, wrong claim) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x9)
- «It's 12.» «Says who? I counted 13.» (casual) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x10)
- Say that again and I'll thump you. (rough) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x11)
- It is stated that a pupil possesses 20 stickers; determine the number remaining upon the disposal of 7. (formal exam) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x12)
- "With all my heart," says I. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/#x13)

### note

No operation; the numbers in what is said are the data. «Let's say» sets up an example. Forms: say, says (said «sez»), said («sed»). «Say» vs «tell»: you say something, you tell someone something. Trap: what someone says may be wrong — «my brother says 3 × 4 is 7» must be checked, not believed. Trap: if a speaker corrects herself («she has 5 — no, 6»), the last number counts. What people say online is not always true. Formal «it is stated that» = it says.

### In the corpora

- [That night she opens her banking app and groans: "The app says we've spent eighty dollars on takeaways this month."](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/7/)
- [By the end of the call there is a plan, and he says, "Right.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/8-borrowing-and-debt/7/)
- [A text saying a parcel is held and asking for a small payment is a common scam to steal bank details.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/18/)
- [Moving means packing everything, doing paperwork and saying goodbye all at once, so it is very stressful.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/10-moving-house-and-renting-a-home/17/)
- [Coming home with flowers the day after a row is making up, a way of saying sorry and wanting to be friends again.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up/9/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «say» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.