/Reported Speech
B1Reported Speech

Say and Tell

1

What is it?

"Say" and "tell" are both reporting verbs used to report speech, but they follow different grammatical patterns. "Tell" always needs an indirect object (a person): "She told me she was tired." "Say" does not need an indirect object: "She said she was tired." Getting this right is one of the most important distinctions in reported speech.

2

How to form it

SubjectPositiveNegativeQuestion
say (no object)She said she was tired.He said he didn't know.What did she say?
say + to + personShe said to me that she was tired.He said to us that he didn't know.What did she say to you?
tell + personShe told me she was tired.He told us he didn't know.What did she tell you?
tell + person + to-inf (command)She told me to sit down.He told us not to worry.Did she tell you to leave?
  • • "Say" never takes a direct person object: NOT "She said me..." → "She said (to me)..."
  • • "Tell" always takes a person object: NOT "She told that..." → "She told me that..."
  • • "Tell" is used for commands and instructions: "He told her to stop."
  • • Common fixed expressions with "tell": tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell the time, tell the difference.
  • • Common fixed expressions with "say": say hello/goodbye, say sorry, say a word, say a prayer.
  • • Both verbs backshift in reported speech.
3

When to use it

  1. 1

    "Say" — no person object needed

    She said the meeting was at 3.

  2. 2

    "Say to" — adds person with preposition

    He said to her that he was sorry.

  3. 3

    "Tell" — person object always required

    She told me the meeting was at 3.

  4. 4

    "Tell" for commands

    The teacher told the students to be quiet.

  5. 5

    "Tell" in fixed expressions

    He always tells the truth.

4

Common mistakes

She said me she was leaving.

She told me she was leaving. / She said she was leaving.

"Say" cannot be followed directly by a person. Use "told me" or just "said".

He told that he was tired.

He said that he was tired. / He told me that he was tired.

"Tell" must be followed by a person object. Without one, use "said".

She said to me to sit down.

She told me to sit down.

For commands (to-infinitive), always use "tell + person + to-infinitive".

5

Quick reference

  • "Say" does not take a person object directly.
  • "Tell" always needs a person object after it.
  • Use "tell" for commands: "He told her to leave."
  • "Say to + person" is possible but less common than "told".
  • Fixed expressions: tell the truth, tell a lie, say sorry, say hello.
  • Both backshift in reported speech.
6

Natural conversation example

Two friends talk about a confusing phone call.

A

Amy

What did he say?
B

Ben

He said he would be late.
A

Amy

Did he tell you why?
B

Ben

Yes, he told me his train was delayed.
A

Amy

Did he say anything else?
B

Ben

He told me not to wait and said to start without him.
A

Amy

OK. Did he say what time he'd arrive?
B

Ben

No, he just said he'd be as quick as possible.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blank with "said" or "told".

  1. 1.
    She __ me she was going home early.
  2. 2.
    He __ he didn't feel well.
  3. 3.
    The doctor __ her to rest for a week.
  4. 4.
    They __ that the meeting had been cancelled.
  5. 5.
    She __ us not to worry.
  6. 6.
    He __ goodbye and left.
  7. 7.
    The teacher __ the class to open their books.
  8. 8.
    She always __ the truth.
  9. 9.
    He __ to us that he was sorry.
  10. 10.
    They __ me everything would be fine.
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