The verbs say and tell are very similar in meaning, and you can often use them interchangeably to express the same idea. The difference is that to say focuses on the words that are spoken, while to tell focuses on the content and message, and usually indicates who is receiving the message.
TO SAY
To say + something
There are two common errors that English students make when they use the verb to say. Can you pick out the two sentences that are incorrect?
1.) Please, say something!
2.) The weather woman is saying that there will be rain later today.
3.) Maria said me that she was content.
4.) Thomas said he had been to Turkey.
5.) Magda said, “no way”.
6.) Jeff said that went to work.
The first error students sometimes make is that they add an object directly after the verb.
To say can not be directly followed by an object to indicate the listener.
Incorrect: Maria said me that she was content.
Correct: Maria said that she was content.
The second error is that students sometime forget to add the subject in the 2nd clause.
Incorrect: Jeff said that went to work.
Correct: Jeff said that he went to work.
A clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. In English, a sentence must have a subject and a verb. In the above, there are two clauses:
Jeff said AND he went to work.
Be careful to include the subject in the 2nd clause!
Idiomatic Expressions with say
What do you say? = Do you agree? What is your opinion?
We should order pizza! What do you say?
It goes without saying. = It is obvious.
It goes without saying that the staff must arrive to work on time.
that is/ that is to say = more exactly
Let me help you move this weekend, that is to say, if you want assistance.
Let’s say/say that = to suppose
Let’s say you were single. Would you go out with me?
Say the word = You only have to ask, and someone will do something for you.
If you need anything, just say the word. I can be there in 5 minutes.
To say + something + to + someone
If you want to use the verb to say, and you also want to add who heard the words, you can add to.
Correct: Robert said to his girlfriend that her new hairstyle suited her.
Incorrect: Robert said his girlfriend that her new hairstyle suited her.
However, if you want to include the listener, it is often better to use the verb to tell.
TO TELL
To tell + someone + something
To tell is usually followed by an object, to indicate who is receiving the message. As you know, to say does not take an object directly after it.
Correct: She said she was at home.
Incorrect: She said me she was at home.
Correct: She told me she was at home.
Incorrect: She told she was at home.
To tell is always used with the following nouns:
the truth
a lie
a story
a secret
a joke
someone a name
someone the time
someone the way
Notice that an object after to tell isn’t necessary for the the first 5!
Phrasal verbs with to tell
Three phrasal verbs that you should know are:
To tell someone off = to speak angrily to someone because they did something wrong
Mark told Juan off for forgetting his birthday.
To tell on someone = to tell an authority that someone has done something wrong
My little sister always told on me when we were children.
To tell thing/someone apart = to distinguish between two nouns
The twins are so similar that people can’t tell them apart.
That as a connector
The use of that to link the clauses is optional here.
Correct: Maria said that she was content.
Correct: Maria said she was content.
Correct: Jeff said that he went to work.
Correct: Jeff said he went to work.
Try the said or told quiz!
