Say vs tell: the difference, when to use each one and examples

Why is it so hard to use say and tell correctly? The answer is simple: in Spanish, and in many other languages, we have a single verb, «decir», for both. We say «me dijo que estaba cansada» and «dijo que estaba cansada» with the same verb, but in English She told me that she was tired and She said that she was tired need different verbs. And if you swap one for the other, the sentence sounds wrong: She said me that she was tired or She told that she was tired are two of the most common mistakes among learners.

Both say and tell are verbs we use to report what somebody said at another time or in another place. What makes them so confusing is that their meaning is virtually the same, while their use is slightly different. In this guide I explain the difference with one simple rule, the structures of each verb with examples, the collocations (because each one goes with different words), the most typical mistakes, how it helps you in the Cambridge exams and thirty sentences of exercises with answers. Let’s get started! 🙂

The difference in one sentence

Compare these two sentences, which sum up the main difference:

• He told me a secret. → tell + someone + something
• He said that I could never let anyone know. → say + (that) + clause

In other words: tell usually takes a person as its object (who you are telling), while say usually doesn’t. That is why these two sentences are incorrect:

• ❌ She told that we should be quiet. → ✅ She told us that we should be quiet. / ✅ She said that we should be quiet.
• ❌ She said me that we should be quiet. → ✅ She told me that we should be quiet.

Structures with SAY

1. say (to someone) + clause (the person is optional and goes with to): He said (to his parents) that he would be home late.
2. say + something (a noun): They didn’t say a word about the robbery.
3. say + to do something (an order, more informal): My mum said to go to bed early.

Notice that, if you want to mention the person with say, you need to: He said to me that…, never He said me that….

Structures with TELL

1. tell + someone + something (a noun, a phrase or a clause): He told me (that) I was being a jerk! Can you believe it?
2. tell + someone + to do something (an order): The teacher told the students to hand in the exam.
3. tell + something + to + someone (noun): Some bad pupils get away with telling lies (to their parents).

With tell the person goes directly after the verb, without to: She told me, He told us, I told him. And if what you want is to give an order or advice, tell is the most natural option: I told him to wait outside.

Collocations with say and tell

Another aspect to take into account is collocations: each verb goes with different words and expressions, and you almost always have to learn them by heart.

And a note on pronunciation: the past of say is said and it is pronounced /sed/ (it rhymes with bed), not /seɪd/; the past of tell is told /təʊld/. Both are irregular verbs: say – said – said and tell – told – told.

Common mistakes with say and tell

Say and tell in reported speech

The difference you have seen is the same when you report what another person said. With tell you need to say who to; with say, you don’t:

• «I’m tired,» she said. → She said (that) she was tired.
• «I’m tired,» she said to me. → She told me (that) she was tired.

The changes of tense, pronouns and time expressions are explained in my guide to reported speech, and in my guide to reporting verbs you have other verbs for reporting what somebody said.

What about speak and talk?

These two verbs are also translated as «hablar», but they are not used to report what someone said:

Say and tell in the Cambridge exams

This difference comes up again and again in the Use of English paper of B2 First and C1 Advanced, especially in Part 4 (key word transformation) and in reported speech, with the key words TOLD or SAID. For example:

• «Don’t be late,» the teacher said to us. TOLD
  The teacher ______ late. → told us not to be
• «I’m tired,» he said to me. TOLD
  He ______ tired. → told me (that) he was

In both you have to remember two things: that tell takes a person directly after it and that, in reported speech, the tense moves back. It is a very typical mistake at B2.

Summary table

Which one should I learn first?

If you are just starting out, focus on the two most common structures: tell me something and say that + clause. Once you have mastered them, it will be much easier to move on to the others.

Can you say «say me»?

No. With say you can’t put the person directly after it. Say tell me, or say to me if you want to use say.

Is it «tell the truth» or «say the truth»?

It is tell the truth. It is a fixed collocation, just like tell a lie and tell a joke.

Say and tell exercises

Thirty sentences to check that you’ve got it. Below you have three interactive exercises that mark themselves, so you will know straight away how you did.

And if you prefer a version in text that you can copy and paste, you have it down here 👇

Exercise 1: say or tell?

Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence.

Exercise 2: complete the sentences

Write the correct form of say or tell in each gap.

Exercise 3: correct or incorrect?

Decide whether each sentence is correct. If it is incorrect, rewrite it correctly.

Conclusion

To sum up in three ideas: tell always takes a person (tell me, tell us) and say doesn’t (say that…); each verb has its collocations (tell a story, say hello); and if in doubt, start with tell me something and say that + clause, which are the two safest structures.

If you like these confusing verb pairs, have a look at my posts on lie and lay, suggest and recommend and win and beat.

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See you in the next post. Until then, don’t forget to keep smiling! 🙂