Explain something to someone
Explain no lleva a la persona justo detrás. Se dice explain it to me, can you explain this to me, o can you explain how it works.
Lo mismo pasa con describe y suggest: describe it to me, suggest something to her.
- Explain the problem to me (no Explain me the problem)
- Can you explain it to me? (no Can you explain me?)
- Describe the house to me (no Describe me the house)
Tell lleva a la persona
Tell va seguido de quién: tell me, tell her, tell your boss. She told me the truth, he told us a story.
Expresiones fijas con tell: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell a joke, tell the time.
Say lleva lo que se dice
Say va seguido de las palabras, no de la persona: say hello, say sorry, say something, She said she was tired.
Si quieres nombrar a la persona, usa to: He said goodbye to me. Nunca he said me.
Un truco para no fallar
Si detrás viene una persona, usa tell. Si vienen palabras o una idea, usa say. Y si es explain, pon primero la cosa y después to y la persona.