Say and tell in short conversations

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you can choose between "say" and "tell" in short conversations and avoid the most common transfer errors.

The core difference

"Say" focuses on the words themselves. "Tell" focuses on the person who receives information. Compare:

• "She said, 'I am tired.'" (the words)
• "She told me she was tired." (the person)
• "He said hello." (the words)
• "He told me hello." (unnatural in most contexts)

"Say" does not need a person after it: "She said yes", "He said nothing", "They said the meeting was cancelled." "Tell" usually needs a person: "She told me", "He told them", "They told us". This person is often an indirect object placed directly after "tell": "tell someone something".

Common patterns

Say:

• say something
• say (that) + clause
• say to someone (less common in British English, but acceptable)
• say hello/goodbye/sorry/thank you

Tell:

• tell someone something
• tell someone (that) + clause
• tell a story/joke/lie/secret
• tell the truth
• tell the time
• tell the difference

Examples:

• "She said that the train was late."
• "She told me that the train was late."
• "He told a funny story about his dog."
• "Can you tell the time in English?"
• "I can't tell the difference between these two colours."

Say to someone

In reported speech, "say" can include the listener with "to": "She said to me that she was tired." This is grammatically correct but more formal. In everyday speech, "tell" is usually better: "She told me she was tired." If you are reporting words without mentioning the listener, use "say": "The teacher said the homework is due on Friday."

Common mistakes

• "He said me the truth." Use "He told me the truth."
• "She told that she was busy." Use "She said that she was busy" or "She told me that she was busy."
• "I said him hello." Use "I said hello to him" or "I greeted him."
• "They told a new idea." Use "They said a new idea" or "They presented a new idea."
• "She told a lie to me." Acceptable, but "She told me a lie" is more natural.

Practice

Choose "say" or "tell" for each sentence.

1. She ___ me she would be late.

2. He ___ "Good morning" to everyone.

3. Can you ___ me a story?

4. The sign ___ "No parking".

5. I ___ him the news yesterday.

6. She ___ that the meeting was cancelled.

7. He ___ a lie about his age.

8. They ___ us to wait outside.

Answers: 1. told; 2. said; 3. tell; 4. says; 5. told; 6. said; 7. told; 8. told.

A speaking task

Report five things you heard today. Use "say" when you only remember the words and "tell" when you remember who spoke to you. For example: "My colleague said the report was ready. My manager told me to check it again." This distinction makes your English sound more precise.