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Topic: Say and Tell |
1 August 2002 |
To say and to tell have similar meaning of to inform someone; however, like many other pairs mentioned
earlier in this column the usage is different.
We say something. In other words, we use say followed by the content of the message.
For example:
I said I would be late.
John said that he had won a lottery.
Ken said he would come over as soon as he could.
The teacher said that we did not need to hand in the paper this Friday.
She said she did not know.
We usually use the verb to tell with an indirect object. You tell someone something.
For example:
I told him that I would be late.
John told his friend that he had won a lottery.
Ken told us that he would come over as soon as he could.
The teacher told us we did not need to hand in the paper this Friday.
She told her mother that she did not know.
You can also use the pattern tell someone to do something.
For example:
My boss told me not to be late.
John told his friends to cash the lottery ticket for him.
We asked Ken to come over as soon as he could.
The teacher told us to hand in the paper by next Wednesday.
The mother told her not to lie to her.
Note:
Say (that)
Tell someone (that)
* The word that is optional. It can be omitted.
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Exercise: Tell or Say |
| Directions : Choose the word that best suits the context of the sentences. Use the correct tenses. |
 1. Dad just _______ us not to yell. |
| 2. The announcement _______ that the store will be closed soon. |
| 3. The firemen _______ us to evacuate the building. |
| 4. Wise men _______ only fools rush in. |
| 5. If you have a problem, you should _______ someone. |
| 6. If you need help, just _______ it. |
| 7. Some people _______ that staring at screens for a long time deteriorates your eyesight. |
| 8. Patients _______ their psychiatrist about their problems. |
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Answers |
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