subject + say + words/clauseUse say when no listener comes right after the verb.
Say vs Tell
A2Use say when no listener is named: She said no. Use tell + person when the listener is named: She told me no.
What you'll learn
- Use say when the sentence does not name a listener.
- Use tell + person when the sentence names who hears the message.
- Add to before the listener when you keep the verb say.
- Recognize fixed expressions that use tell, like tell the truth.
Structure
subject + tell + person + words/clausePut the listener directly after tell.
subject + say + words + to + personIf you use say and also name the listener, add to before the person.
Build a sentence
Listener in sentence
Message type
Annatoldmethe news
Anna told me the news.
Listener named? Use tell + person.
When to use
No listener named
Use say when the sentence gives the words or the idea, but not the person who hears it. Anna said she was busy.
Listener named
Use tell when the sentence includes the person who receives the message. Tom told me the news.
Fixed expressions
Some common combinations use tell without a listener after it: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell the difference.
Markers
tell the truthtell a lietell a storytell the difference
Common mistakes
Wrong
Anna said me the answer.
Correct
Anna told me the answer.
Do not put the listener directly after say. Use tell + person, or say ... to + person.
Wrong
Lisa told to me the truth.
Correct
Lisa told me the truth.
After tell, put the person directly next to the verb. Do not add to.
Wrong
Tom told that he was tired.
Correct
Tom said that he was tired.
If no listener is named, use said. Tell normally needs the person who hears the message.
Wrong
Maria said me hello.
Correct
Maria said hello to me.
With say + listener, add to before the person.
Wrong
He said the truth.
Correct
He told the truth.
This is a fixed expression: tell the truth.
Common misconceptions
❝ If I use say, I can never mention the listener. ❞
You can mention the listener with say, but you need to before the person: She said hello to me.
❝ Tell always needs a person after it. ❞
Many common patterns use tell without a listener after it: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story.
Skills in this rule (5)
SAY_WITHOUT_PERSONw5Use say when no listener is named
Use say for words and messages when you do not add the person who hears them. The pattern is say + words/clause, not say + person.
TELL_PLUS_PERSONw5Use tell with the person who receives the message
Use tell when you name the listener: tell me, tell us, tell Anna. Put the person right after tell.
SAY_TO_PERSONw4Use say to + person when you name the listener with say
If you keep the verb say and add a listener, use to: say to me, say to Tom. Do not put the person directly after say.
FIXED_TELL_PATTERNSw3Use common tell patterns like tell the truth and tell a story
Some common combinations use tell with no listener after it, such as tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, and tell the difference.
RECOGNIZE_MESSAGE_CONTEXTw4Choose say or tell from the sentence pattern
Look at the words after the verb. No listener named: use say. Listener named: use tell or say to.