Explain

[irmamar]

Do you prefer saying:

Explain to somebody something

or

Explain something to somebody?

Or it doesn't matter?

Forgive me so many questions, I have an exam next week.

Thanks.

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por irmamar

Do you prefer saying:

Explain to somebody something

or

Explain something to somebody?

Or it doesn't matter?

Forgive me so many questions, I have an exam next week.

Thanks.

Creo que es lo mismo y también creo que sería mejor:

Explaining something to somebody.

[poli]

Escrito originalmente por irmamar

Do you prefer saying:

Explain to somebody something

or

Explain something to somebody?

Or it doesn't matter?

Forgive me so many questions, I have an exam next week.

Thanks.

Explain something to somebody.
or Explain somebody something (notice that in this case we leave out the word to in the second example

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por poli

Explain something to somebody.
or Explain somebody something (notice that in this case we leave out the word to in the second example

oops, yes, sorry...

[hermit]

Best to ask all the questions before the exam, right?

Feel free...

[Perikles]

Escrito originalmente por poli

Explain something to somebody.
or Explain somebody something (notice that in this case we leave out the word to in the second example

I think Irma is learning specifically BrE, in which case that second one is definitely not something she should use.

[irmamar]

Escrito originalmente por Perikles

I think Irma is learning specifically BrE, in which case that second one is definitely not something she should use.

Shouldn't I? Why? I've been taught that I can say both "tell me something" or "tell something to me", although the first one is more common.

[Perikles]

Escrito originalmente por irmamar

Shouldn't I? Why? I've been taught that I can say both "tell me something" or "tell something to me", although the first one is more common.

Yes, yes. You can say "tell me something" but you would never say "explain me something".

[irmamar]

Escrito originalmente por Perikles

Yes, yes. You can say "tell me something" but you would never say "explain me something".

glups...

explain to me, then? neither?

[CrOtALiTo]

Escrito originalmente por irmamar

Shouldn't I? Why? I've been taught that I can say both "tell me something" or "tell something to me", although the first one is more common.

Irmamar.

I have bee thinking the same than you.
Shouldn't I.
Yes you should to do it.

I would choice the second ones.
But I believe that both choices are acceptable.