Say and tell both describe speaking, but they follow different grammar patterns, and mixing them up is one of the most common ESL grammar mistakes.
Say focuses on the words spoken. It is usually not followed directly by a person.
say full definition →
Tell focuses on the person receiving the information. It is almost always followed directly by a person.
tell full definition →
| say | tell | |
|---|---|---|
| Followed by a person? | No, use "say to someone" | Yes, directly: "tell someone" |
| Focus | The words | The listener |
| Simple test | "She said (to me) she was late" | "She told me she was late" |
Say the words. Tell a person. If a person comes right after the verb, you want tell, not say.
Save both words to GoVocab and review them until they stick.
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