Thread: The usage of "то"...

Please watch the comma. The comma separates two things in each sentence
Я хочу сказать тебе, что ты мне нравишься -> I want to tell that I like you
Я хочу сказать тебе то, что говорил вчера -> I want tell you the same thing I told you yesterday. In this sentence "то" is basically shortened form of "это", IMHO

Originally Posted by Doomer

Я хочу сказать тебе то, что говорил вчера -> I want tell you the same thing I told you yesterday. In this sentence "то" is basically shortened form of "это", IMHO

it's not shorthand, то and это are two different demonstrative pronouns like that and this

the use of то in compound sentences is the only norm, it's irreplaceable by это even if you add direct object

Я хочу повторить тебе тот анекдот, что рассказывал вчера

NOT

Я хочу повторить тебе этот анекдот, что рассказывал вчера

occasionally you may hear people say so but it's incorrect and usually occurs in situations where they intend to end the statement at the comma, but then decide to add some clarification