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SAY vs TELL
Confused about when to use “say” and “tell” in English?
If you’re starting to learn English, you may get confused about when to use SAY or TELL when talking to someone. Let’s break it down with explanations and examples!
NOTE
SAY and TELL are irregular verbs!
When to Use "Say"
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Explanation |
Examples |
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General Speech
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Use "say" when reporting someone's words directly or indirectly.
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Direct: He said, "I'm coming." Indirect: He said that he was coming.
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Without a Direct Object
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"Say" can be used without specifying to whom the words were spoken.
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She said, "Good morning!"
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REMEMBER
“said” is past simple of “say”
When to Use "Tell"
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Explanation |
Examples |
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Specific Listener (Direct Object Required)
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Use "tell" when you need to specify the person being spoken to.
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He told me a secret.
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Giving Information or Instructions
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"Tell" is often used when providing information, giving instructions, or making a request.
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I told you to sit down. |
REMEMBER
“told” is past simple of “tell”
The STRUCTURE used when giving instructions is:
Tell + indirect object + to-infinitive
Examples:
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She says she’ll be here by this afternoon.
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He said, “Hello!”
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He said he would help me with my project.
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He told me the truth about what happened.
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They will tell us the details tomorrow.
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She told Debora to pack her stuff up.
Quick Tips:
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Use "say" for general statements and quotes without mentioning the listener.
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Use "tell" when specifying who is being spoken to and when giving instructions or information.
Here’s a quick exercise you can do:
Instructions:
Read and Match:
Below are pairs of sentences. Complete the sentences with the correct form of "say" or "tell.".
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She ______, "I'll be there at 5 PM."
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Can you ______ me the time?
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He ______ he was tired.
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They ______ us the news yesterday.
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John ______ he would call later.
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Please ______ her to bring the documents.
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She ______, "Thank you for your help."
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Can you ______ me your address?
Answers:
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She said, "I'll be there at 5 PM."
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Can you tell me the time?
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He said he was tired.
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They told us the news yesterday.
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John said he would call later.
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Please tell her to bring the documents.
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She said, "Thank you for your help."
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Can you tell me your address?
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