SAY vs. TELL

SAY vs. TELL

Grammar focus

Both verbs SAY and TELL mean DIZER in Portuguese.

'SAY' and 'TELL' are irregular verbs and their past forms are 'SAID' and 'TOLD', respectively.

​You 'say' something,

BUT

you 'tell' someone something. Examples:

​

1. The kids say (that) they love their Math classes with Mrs. Smith.

2. The kids always tell their parents (that) they love their Math classes with Mrs. Smith.

​SAY is used with a Direct Object.

You SAY SOMETHING

​

BUT

​

When you want to use 'SAY' with an INDIRECT OBJECT, use TO with it.

You SAY SOMETHING TO SOMEONE

Examples:

​

Bob said (that) he loved his job.

​

Bob said TO his boss (that) he loved his job.

Use SAY with reported speech (Direct OR Indirect) .

Examples:

Bob said: "I love my job, Mr. Robinson." (Direct speech)

​Bob said that he loved his job. (Indirect speech)

Similarly, we use TELL with reported speech (Direct and Indirect), BUT, in this case, it is necessary to introduce the HEARER.

Examples:

​Bob told Mr. Robinson: "I love my job." (Direct speech)

​Bob told Mr. Robinson that he loved his job. (Indirect speech)

NOW, LET'S PRACTICE OUR KNOWLEDGE

Multiple Choice

1. Daisy ... that she was very hungry.

• said

• told

• say

• tell

Multiple Choice

2. Ben ... Sarah that he went to the movies on Saturday.

• said

• told

• say

• tell

Multiple Choice

3. Jean Jacques ... everybody he is Canadian.

• said

• told

• says

• tells

Multiple Choice

4. I always ... my Mom the truth.

• say

• tell

• says

• tells

Multiple Choice

5. The doctor ... Steve that he needed to stop smoking.

• said

• tell

• told

• tells

Multiple Choice

6. Excuse me! Can you ... me how to get to the theater, please?

• said

• tells

• told

• tell

Multiple Choice

7. The kids ... (that) their father's name was Brian.

• say

• said

• told

• tell

Multiple Choice

8. Students, let me ... you something very important.

• say

• said

• told

• tell