Example sentences of "to tell [pron] the time " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | B : Well , the milkman has come All that we can reasonably expect a semantic theory to tell us about this minimal exchange is that there is at least one reading that we might paraphrase as follows : ( 2 ) A : Do you have the ability to tell me the time ? |
| 2 | B : [ pragmatically interpreted particle ] the milkman came at some time prior to the time of speaking Yet it is clear to native speakers that what would ordinarily be communicated by such an exchange involves considerably more , along the lines of the italicized material in ( 3 ) : ( 3 ) A : Do you have the ability to tell me the time of the present moment , as standardly indicated on a watch , and if so please do so tell me B : No I do n't know the exact time of the present moment , but I can provide some information from which you may be able to deduce the approximate time , namely the milkman has come ( see R. Lakoff , 1973a ; Smith & Wilson , 1979 : 172ff for a discussion of such examples ) . |
| 3 | England was a civilised country , where policemen were happy to tell you the time and give you directions in the street . |
| 4 | Additional options include a talking calculator and a talking clock that can be set to tell you the time every fifteen minutes , half an hour or hour . |
| 5 | Additional options include a talking calculator and a talking clock that can be set to tell you the time every fifteen minutes , half an hour or hour . |