ENGLISH
REFERENCE

they say

fixed phr..
A2 Elementary Oxford

fixed phr.. you use this to share a common belief or a piece of advice that many people know. It is a way to talk about general knowledge without naming a specific person.

fixed phr.. an idiomatic formulaic sequence used to introduce a proverb, general truth, or hearsay; functions as an impersonal reportative marker.


SIMPLE

They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

CONTEXTUAL

They say it is going to be a very cold winter this year according to the local news.

COMPLEX

While they say that money cannot buy happiness, recent economic studies suggest a more nuanced correlation between wealth and well-being.

Usage

often followed by a 'that' clause, though 'that' is frequently omitted in casual speech.

Teaching tip

explain that 'they' does not refer to a specific group of people but acts as a generic pronoun for 'people in general' or 'society'.

Pitfall

People says that it is good.They say that it is good.the phrase 'they say' is a fixed plural construction; using 'people says' is grammatically incorrect because 'people' requires a plural verb.

© 2026 English Reference