Say vs Tell
Learn Say vs Tell in English and practice choosing the right verb in everyday sentences.
Use say to report words or speech. Use tell when information goes to a person. This is the main difference, but some fixed expressions do not follow a simple rule.
Say is often followed by the words that were spoken or by a that clause. The listener is not usually the direct object after say. If you name the listener, English often uses to before the person.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use say for spoken words or reported speech. |
| Use say something when the focus is on the words, not the listener. |
| Use say that plus a clause to report an idea. |
| Use say to someone when you include the listener. |
Tell is often followed by a person. It shows that someone gives information, instructions, or a story to another person. Tell can also be followed by a that clause after the person.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use tell someone when a person comes directly after the verb. |
| Use tell someone that plus a clause to report information. |
| Use tell for giving facts, news, instructions, or stories to a person. |
| Do not use to before the person after tell. |
In direct speech, say often introduces the exact words. In indirect speech, both say and tell can report meaning, but their patterns stay different. Say focuses on the words, and tell focuses on the person who receives the information.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use say more often with exact quoted words. |
| Use say or tell in indirect reporting, but keep their normal patterns. |
| Use tell when the sentence needs a listener after the verb. |
Some expressions must be learned as whole phrases. English speakers do not always follow one simple rule in these cases. A few uses can vary by style or personal choice, but many fixed expressions are standard.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| tell the truth | This fixed expression means to speak honestly. |
| tell a lie | This fixed expression means to say something false. |
| tell a story | This fixed expression means to give a story to listeners. |
| say sorry | This fixed expression means to express apology. |
| say hello | This fixed expression means to greet someone. |
| say no | This fixed expression means to refuse something. |
You can now choose between say and tell in many common sentences. You can use say for words and speech, and tell for information to a person. You also know that some everyday expressions are fixed and need to be learned as phrases.