Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[river1974]

Dear teachers:

I'm telling you, Nisha, Macau's got something for everyone!

Is it polite to say "I'm telling you"?

Thanks.

[asterix]

It's an emphatic way of telling someone you're telling them something.
The example you give is polite enough.

[advoca]

Another way of saying, "I'm telling you Nscha," would be to say, "Believe me, Nisha, Macao is..."

"I'm telling you" is quite a normal expression in every day speech and is reasonably polite. It is just a way of speaking when you want to emphasise your point,

Asterix explains it well.