Say or Tell?
- TC
- Aug 31, 2025
- 2 min read
If you are learning English, you’ve probably wondered: What’s the difference between say and tell? Both words are used for reporting speech, but they follow different patterns. Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes learners make. Let’s break it down step by step.
Say
Structure: say + something
You can also add to + person.
✅ Examples:
She said hello.
He said he was tired.
She said to me that she was busy.
⚠️ Typical mistake: She said me that she was busy.❌
✅ She told me that she was busy. / She said to me that she was busy.
Tell
Structure: tell + someone + something
It always needs a person (the listener).
✅ Examples:
She told me a secret.
He told her he was tired.
They told us about the trip.
⚠️ Typical mistake: ❌ He told that he was tired.
✅ He said that he was tired. / He told me that he was tired.
Reported Speech
Both say and tell are common in reported speech:
Direct speech: “I’m hungry,” she said.
Reported speech: She said (that) she was hungry.
Direct speech: “I’m hungry,” she told me.
Reported speech: She told me (that) she was hungry.
🔑 Key rule: With “tell,” you must mention who was told.
Common Expressions
Some fixed expressions use tell or say:
Say: say hello, say sorry, say a prayer, say no/yes
Tell: tell a story, tell the truth, tell a lie, tell the time, tell a joke
✅ Example:
She told a story about her childhood.
He said hello when he arrived.
1: Fill in the Blank (Say vs. Tell)
Complete the sentences with the correct form of say or tell.
She ___ she was tired after the meeting.
He ___ me that he was going on holiday.
Don’t forget to ___ thank you when someone helps you.
Can you ___ me the time, please?
They ___ that they would call us tomorrow.
My teacher ___ me to study harder.
KEY: said, told, say, tell, said, told
2: Correct the Mistakes
Each sentence has a mistake with say or tell. Correct it.
She said me the answer.
He told that he was busy.
They said a funny story in class.
Can you say me about your trip?
He told to me that he likes pizza.
KEY: told, said, told, tell, told me
Extra exercises online:
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