Say and tell are similar in that they both mean to talk or give information to someone verbally¹. However, there are differences in sentence construction and exact meaning.

Can you see the difference between these two sentences?

John told me you were sick last week.

John said you were sick last me.

 

Fill in the gaps² below with either ‘tell’ or ‘say’ to show the first rule:

You ________ someone something but you _________ something to someone.

答案

You TELL someone something but you SAY something to someone.
你告诉某人某事但是你说一些话给某人。

 

Here some more examples:

Jane said she liked my new shirt > Jane told me that she liked my new shirt

His boss said David had to stay late > His boss told David that he had to stay late

She said she loved me! > She told me that she loved me!

 

Tip 1: Using ‘that’ with told

When using told, you do not have to say ‘that’. For example, both of these are correct:

Jane told me that she liked my new shirt > Jane told me she liked my new shirt

His boss told David that he had to stay late > His boss told David he had to stay late

She told me that she loved me! > She told me she loved me!

 

Tip 2: Direct³ and reported speech

When you are using reported speech, you can use say and tell.

 

For example:

He said he would be late home. CORRECT

He told me he would be late home. CORRECT

However, when you are using direct speech, tell is used only when giving a command or instruction.

‘Take seat over there’ he told me.  CORRECT

‘Take a seat over there’ he said. CORRECT

‘It’s good to see you’ he told me. INCORRECT⁴

‘It’s good to see you’ he said. CORRECT

 

Tip 3: When the person being spoken to is not mentioned.

He said he needed another few days to finish the job. CORRECT

He told that he needed another few days to finish the job. INCORRECT

He told Bob that he needed another few days to finish the job. (We know the person being spoken to is Bob) CORRECT

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