Tell: told

Tell is an irregular verb that means to communicate information, describe something, or instruct someone. It takes an object (what is told) and is often followed by a person (told someone) or a clause (told that...).

Here are the main forms of tell in the past tense and past participle:

Form	Example (English)	Example (English with object)	Example (English with indirect object)	Example (Spanish)	Example (Spanish with object)	Example (Spanish with indirect object)
Base form (present)	I tell the story.	I tell a secret.	I tell him the truth.	Yo cuento la historia.	Yo cuento un secreto.	Yo le cuento la verdad.
Past tense (told)	I told the story.	I told a secret.	I told him the truth.	Yo conté la historia.	Yo conté un secreto.	Yo le conté la verdad.
Past participle (told)	I have told the story.	I have told a secret.	I have told him the truth.	Yo he contado la historia.	Yo he contado un secreto.	Yo le he contado la verdad.

Usage Tips

tell someone something: Tell him the news.
tell someone that...: She told me that she’s coming.
tell a story/joke/secret: He tells great jokes.
Use tell when specifying who receives the information.
Do not use tell without an object (you must say told someone).

Common Questions

Can I say “tell to someone”? Usually, just tell someone is correct.
What’s the difference between tell and say? Tell needs an object; say does not (e.g., “She said hello,” but “She told me hello”).

This page covers the verb tell and its past form told, showing how it fits into sentences to express communication or sharing information.

Can 'tell' be used without specifying who receives the information?

Sometimes, when the context is clear.

No, tell always requires an object (someone).

Only in questions and commands.

Yes, tell can be used alone.

No, tell always requires an object (someone).

'Tell' must be followed by an indirect object (e.g., tell me, tell him). It is incorrect to use 'tell' without specifying who you are telling.

Past form: I _____ him the truth. (I / tell)

telt

told

telled

tell

told

The correct past tense form is 'told.' The sentence should be 'I told him the truth.'

Flashcards (1 of 3)

Form: Base form (present)

Example (English): I tell the story.
Example (English with object): I tell a secret.
Example (English with indirect object): I tell him the truth.