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Tell: told

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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:
FormExample (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.

Translate: We told them the story.


We told them the story.

Both 'We told them the story' and 'We told the story to them' are correct in English, but here, 'We told them the story' follows the standard 'tell someone something' pattern.

Which object structure does 'tell' require?


tell + indirect object + direct object (e.g., tell him the news)

'Tell' usually requires an indirect object (the person being told) and a direct object (the information). For example, 'tell him the news.' Unlike some verbs, 'tell to someone' is generally incorrect.

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.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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