to say or to tell |
UPDATED: OCT 2022
Learn how to use these two verbs!!
SAY:
- You say something to someone or repeat what someone said.
- No "pronoun" after "say".
He said me to buy some beer. <= incorrect
He said, "Buy some beer". <= correct
- You tell someone something. Direct.
- No "to" after "tell".
Tell to him to buy some beer. < = incorrect
He told me to buy some beer. <= correct
Tell him to buy some beer. <= correct
to say
TO SAY + THAT: (say - said - saying)
- Something is being repeated that was said by someone else.
- Think "gossip".
- She said, "I love to travel." <- QUOTES (")
- She said that she loved to travel. <- THAT (NO QUOTES)
EXAMPLES
- She said that she didn't like vanilla ice cream.
- She said "I don't like vanilla ice cream."
- The President said that the US economy was doing well.
- What did your girlfriend say?
- What did you say?
to tell
TO TELL + PRONOUN: (tell - told - telling)
- Someone is communicating something to you or to someone else. Direct; not repeating what some said.
- As in teacher to student, Doctor to patient, Father to Son
- to tell + pronoun (me, him, her, them, us, you)
EXAMPLES
- My teacher told me to study more.
- The Doctor told her to stop smoking.
- My wife told me NOT to go to the bar.
- If I told you once, I've told you a 100 times, you need to improve your English pronunciation.
ALSO CHECK OUT: