tell to someone

Inchoateknowledge wrote:

''Stories to tell to children''  =  stories (to tell = infinitive clause modifying 'stories') to children stories to children 'to' does not hinge on the verb tell

Then, we can say  '' Stories (to tell) for children''  can't we?

Hello MrT

1. Tolkien used to make up his own stories to tell to his children.

2. Tolkien used to make up his own stories to tell his children.

Both are fine.

You can "tell someone stories" or "tell stories to someone". If the indirect object (here, "someone") follows the verb, it's not usual to use a preposition with "someone"; but if the direct object (or rather, cognate object, in this example) follows the verb, you do need a preposition with "someone".

Similarly, you can say "stories to tell someone" or "stories to tell to someone". I don't find much difference between the two versions; except that perhaps the version with "to" has a greater directional sense (i.e. the "to" emphasises the story-telling relationship).

All the best,

MrP

Sorry if it wasn't clear, I just wanted to say tell is not the main verb on this sentence. Of course, tell is a verb.

I just wanted to make my point of not thinking "tell" and "to" as a set.

As indicated in the book title, "Stories to tell" becomes one big noun as a set in the sentence.. It is like "Games to play" or "Things to do"

"to his childrren" can be replaced by "for his children" just as easily.

MrPedantic wrote:

Hello MrT 1. Tolkien used to make up his own stories to tell to his children. 2. Tolkien used to make up his own stories to tell his children. Both are fine. You can "tell someone stories" or "tell stories to someone". If the indirect object (here, "someone") follows the verb, it's not usual to use a preposition with "someone"; but if the direct object (or rather, cognate object, in this example) follows the verb, you do need a preposition with "someone". Similarly, you can say "stories to tell someone" or "stories to tell to someone". I don't find much difference between the two versions; except that perhaps the version with "to" has a greater directional sense (i.e. the "to" emphasises the story-telling relationship). All the best, MrP

Thanks Mr Pedantic ,but

What do you think of Mr Incha's explanation?  It sounds good to me.