核心问题
A policeman came to see me about the theft. “____ investigate,” he said. A. I’ve been said to B. I’ve been told to C. It has been said to me D. It has been told me (Nelson, 250C) 答案为 B。我不明白为什么不能选 A。
词典解答
tell 与 say 的另一个区别, 是 tell 可用于 tell sb. to do sth. 结构, 而 say 却无 say sb. to do sth. 的用法。
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I told him to go away. (Chambers) 我让他走了。
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Tell him to wait. (OSD) 叫他等着。
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She told me to call again tomorrow. (CGEL) 她叫我明天再打电话。
其次还要懂得，在 tell sb. sth. 结构中，其中的间接宾语可以成为被动句的主语：
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He was told to go away. 有人叫他走。
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Mark was told to see a doctor. (CGEL) 有人叫马克去看医生。
上面试题中的选项 B 便属于这一用法。
[附注]在英语中,尤其是在美国英语中,有 say for sb. to do sth. 的用法:
She said for us to sit down. (CGEL) 她叫我们坐下。