Hi,
How would you answer a question like this: -Will she join us?
1. - It’s hard to say.
2. - It’s hard to tell.
Thanks.
How would you answer a question like this: -Will she join us?
1. - It’s hard to say.
2. - It’s hard to tell.
Thanks.
say/tell
I would probably answer with (1) but, in this particular case, it could just as easily be (2).
What's the difference? Well, if you were just commenting on whether she will join, without much concern about her choice, you would use (1), if her choice matters to you or to the questioner, you would be more likely to answer (2).
Still, I don't think many native speakers would make too much fuss over the distinction between the two.
What's the difference? Well, if you were just commenting on whether she will join, without much concern about her choice, you would use (1), if her choice matters to you or to the questioner, you would be more likely to answer (2).
Still, I don't think many native speakers would make too much fuss over the distinction between the two.
I would also go with 1.
The difference is that "Will she join us" requires a response, so 'say' would be appropriate.
"hard to tell" indicates discernment ['tell' here is not a direct development of the sense of 'tell' that means 'to say/recount verbally', but an older, more original sense of 'to count/consider/esteem/discern']. Unless you were looking at her at the time of asking "Will she join us" and able to see her reaction, 'tell' wouldn't fit the situation as nicely as 'say'
but 'tell' could work
The difference is that "Will she join us" requires a response, so 'say' would be appropriate.
"hard to tell" indicates discernment ['tell' here is not a direct development of the sense of 'tell' that means 'to say/recount verbally', but an older, more original sense of 'to count/consider/esteem/discern']. Unless you were looking at her at the time of asking "Will she join us" and able to see her reaction, 'tell' wouldn't fit the situation as nicely as 'say'
but 'tell' could work
Say is not equal to tell.
For example, I said to him "Are you ok?" This can't mean that I told him "Are you OK?"
To tell is more direct, to say is more like speech in general.
If you want to know something, you can say to someone "Tell me" but you can't tell someone to "say me"
For example, I said to him "Are you ok?" This can't mean that I told him "Are you OK?"
To tell is more direct, to say is more like speech in general.
If you want to know something, you can say to someone "Tell me" but you can't tell someone to "say me"