Say or Tell

Say or Tell?

Say and tell have similar meanings. They both mean to communicate verbally with someone. But we often use them differently.

The simple way to think of say and tell is:

• You say something
• You tell someone something

You say something	You tell someone something
Ram said that he was tired.	Ram told Jane that he was tired.
Anthony says you have a new job.	Anthony tells me you have a new job.
Tara said: "I love you."	Tara told John that she loved him.

But, of course, it is not always so easy. Here are a few rules to help you.

Personal object
We usually follow tell with a personal object (the person that we are speaking to). We usually use say without a personal object:

• She told me that she loved John.
• She said that she loved John.
• He told everybody that he had to leave.
• He said that he had to leave.

Say "to someone"
With say, we sometimes use "to someone":

• He said to me that he was tired.
• Tara said to Ram that he had done very well.
• Anthony said to her, "I hope you come soon."
• "I'd like to sleep," she said to him quietly.

Direct speech
We can use say with direct speech. We use tell only with direct speech that is an instruction or information:

• Amanda said, "Hello John. How are you?"
• "That's great'" she said.
• He told her: "Open the door quietly."
• She told me, "I have never been to England."

We can use say with direct questions, but we cannot use tell:

• She said: "Do you love me?"
• The policeman said to the prisoner, "Where were you at 8pm?"

Reported speech
We can use say and tell to talk about reported information:

• She said that it was raining.
• She told me that she would call at 2pm.

We cannot use say or tell to talk about reported questions. We must use ask (or a similar verb):

• She asked if I had ever been there.
• They asked what I wanted to eat.
• She asked where he lived.
• He asked if she wanted to go home.

Orders, advice
We use tell + object + infinitive for orders or advice:

• She told him to sit down.
• They told me not to wait.
• Tell Neil to have a holiday and forget her.

Phrases
Here are a few fixed phrases with tell. We cannot use say with these phrases:

• tell (someone) a story
• tell (someone) a lie
• tell (someone) the truth
• tell the future (= to know what the future will bring)
• tell the time (= know how to read a clock)

Say or Tell Quiz

1	Anthony said told asked that he was hungry.	Click for answer said
2	Tara said told asked me that you were ill.	Click for answer told
3	He says tells asks everybody that he is French.	Click for answer tells
4	He said told to me that he was angry.	Click for answer said
5	The doctor said told her: "Lie on the couch."	Click for answer told
6	She said told asked , "That's a great idea!"	Click for answer said
7	She said told : "What's the time?"	Click for answer said
8	He said told asked that it had snowed the week before.	Click for answer said
9	She said told asked me that Bangkok was hot.	Click for answer told
10	She said told asked if I had ever been there.	Click for answer asked
11	James said told him to shut up.	Click for answer told
12	They said told asked what I felt like.	Click for answer asked
13	Say Tell him to have a drink and relax.	Click for answer Tell
14	He always says tells asks his daughter a bed-time story.	Click for answer tells
15	Some people just cannot say tell the truth.	Click for answer tell
16	Panita said told that she was disappointed.	Click for answer said
17	The teacher told asked : "Have you done your homework?"	Click for answer asked
18	He's 9 years old and still can't say tell the time.	Click for answer tell
19	His father said told him not to come home late.	Click for answer told
20	How do I know? I can't say tell ask the future.	Click for answer tell