Say and Tell are essential verbs for describing how we communicate spoken words in English, but they are used differently:
- Say highlights the actual words spoken and is often used without specifying a listener.
- Tell focuses on delivering information or instructions and always requires a listener (a person who is told something).
Say
Say is used to express the exact words spoken or reported. It can be used in direct or indirect speech. When using say, the listener is often optional or less important.
- You do not usually mention the listener after say (or you use “to” if you do):
- Correct: She said, “I’m tired.”
- Correct: She said to me, “I’m tired.”
- Incorrect: She said me, “I’m tired.”
- Common structures: say (that...) / say + direct speech / say + something / say + to someone
Examples
- He said, “I’ll be late.”
- She said that the movie was great.
- Did you say anything about the meeting?
- I don’t like what he said to you.
Correct: She said 'I'm leaving now.' / He said that he was tired. Incorrect: She said me to wait. / He said her a secret.
Yes, you can use 'say' without mentioning a listener.
Correct forms: say something, say (that), say to someone. Incorrect: say someone.
Tell
Tell is used when giving information, instructions, or stories to someone specific. The verb tell always requires an object (the person who is receiving the information).
- You must include a person (direct object) after tell: tell someone (something).
- Common structures: tell someone (that...) / tell someone (something) / tell a story/joke/lie
Examples
- She told me a secret.
- They told us to wait outside.
- Can you tell him the truth?
- I told Sarah about the party.
Correct: Tell me the news. She told us a story. They told him to be careful. Incorrect: Tell the news. She told about the problem.
No, you cannot use 'tell' without specifying a listener.
Say vs Tell: Comparison
| Feature | Say | Tell |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Words spoken | Information/instructions |
| Is a listener needed? | No (optional with 'to') | Yes (listener required) |
| Typical forms | say / say that / say to... | tell someone / tell someone something |
| Example | She said, “Hello.” | She told me to wait. |
Correct: He said he'll come later. She told us the plan. They said 'goodbye'. Incorrect: He told the plan. She said me the news.
Conclusion
Say is for expressing spoken words, often without mentioning the listener, while tell is for delivering information and always requires a listener.
- Use say to focus on the words themselves.
- Use tell when emphasizing the transmission of information to someone.