Say and tell have the same meaning:

to utter, to communicate, to inform.

BUTSAY
Both theyand
areTELL
used can
in different
be followed by an indirect object, but
constructions.
after SAY indirect object is used with preposition to, and after
TELL indirect object is always used without preposition.
Indirect Direct
SAYTELL
SAY TELLsay yes/noExamples
Object Object
say hello/ She said to me, “You
We say to someone something
goodbye dropped your wallet.”
We tell someone you/please She told me (that) I
say thanksomething
dropped my wallet.
SAY can be followed by a direct object expressed by: say out loud
a) a word or a phrase: say a prayer
* Mother smiled and said nothing. say a few words
b) an object clause with or without conjunction that: it goes without saying
* He said (that) he didn’t have money.
like/as smb said
c) a direct quotation:
* Miriam said, “I don’t know what to do.”
Direct Indirect
Examples
Object Object
We say something to someone I said ‘thanks’ to her.
TELL is used for commands and advice:
TELL someone (not) to do something
* The teacher told us to stand up.
* She told me not to worry about the time.

Idioms, sayings & proverbs with

SAY and TELL Match the sentences
with the pictures
To tell tales out of school (spread rumors) 1. Who’s Al and who’s Ed?
Tell that to the marines! (I don’t believe I can’t tell them apart.
you)
2. The sign on the door says
So you say.
that no adults are allowed.
You don’t say so!
What will Mrs. Grundy say? (disapproval) 3. Can you tell me where
the bank is, please?
What will the world say? tell a story/a joke
The least said, the soonest mended. 4. “I’ll tell you a secret,”
tell a secret Ann whispered.
Better to do well, then to say well.
Easier said than done. tell a lie/lies 5. The clock says I have 1
He who says what he likes, shall hear what tell the truth minute left before the bell.
he does not like. tell smb off 6. We love it when our
Learn to say before you sing. teacher tells us stories.
tell the future
No sooner said than done.
(= know what7.the
Little Nick will
future always says
bring)
‘hello’ to us.
tell the time
8. Lil is teaching me how to
(= know howtell
to read a clock)
the future from cards.
tell the difference
tell apart (= be able to see the
difference)
Created by: LanguageAvenue.com
 Choose SAY or TELL in the correct form
1 2
The actor said/told a few words to the
audience.
Maria told/said that she needed help.
Why can't you say/tell the truth?
The nurse told/said me to go home.
The teacher said/told "It’s time to finish
your work."
She told/said "hello" to me.
Say/Tell your friend to come in and have
dinner with us.
The professor told/said his students to
turn in their reports.
I could say/tell the time when I was five.
I told/said, “We'll see who's going to win."
Don't say/tell me what to do.
Can you say/tell me your name again,
please?
The weather man says/tells that it is
going to rain tomorrow.
Nobody can tell/say the future.
They told/said everybody that they were
leaving for Paris soon.
She said/told me that she didn't like New
York.
She told/said nothing and left the room.
My father told/said me not to bother him
with questions.
Paul said/told, "I took your pencil."
The twins look so alike. You can't say/tell
them apart.
He said/told to me that he was hungry.
I don't think they are going to say/tell us
the truth.
She always tells/says her son a bedtime
story.
Papa would never tell/say a lie.
The woman said/told to me, "Come in."
I said/told him to be quiet.
What do you say/tell to that?
Mother told/said she was upset about the
lost money.
The teacher told/said to Paul, "Stop
playing with the pen."
They never said/told us what happened.
Were you going to tell/say the police the
truth or a lie?
I have nothing to say/tell about this.
That is exactly what my sister said/told
she wanted for her birthday.
How do you tell/say one fish apart from the
other?
That's fair to tell/say.
I ___________ this woman that my
hobby was gardening.
News stations always ___________ the
story from a certain angle.
My mother ___________ me not to
marry a guy like you.
He called me from Switzerland and
___________, "Don't worry. I can handle
it."
She's never heard him ___________ a
lie, not even to make a story better.
You know what your mother
___________ to that theory?
I could always ___________ the time by
the shadows on the dirt.
I just ___________ good-bye and hang
up.
I know him, and I know he will
___________ me the truth.
I don't like anybody to ___________ me
what I should do.
What do I need to ___________ when I
talk to his parents tomorrow?
This is what researchers ___________ is
the most common form of sleepwalking.
Some accents are as easy to
___________ apart as the English-
speakers of New Orleans and those of
New York.
He ___________ there was nothing he
could do to help me.
As I ___________ I am not much of a
television watcher.
People who ___________ jokes are a
pain in the neck.
We can't ___________ the future, but
it's a possibility that they will get
married.
He also ___________ me that his
mother was very ill.
Some people here ___________ it's like
living in a battle zone.
I ___________ her not to put her name
on anything my girlfriend could see.
He ___________ that the baby had been
crying the whole time she was gone.
Can you ___________ me the time? -
Ten after nine.
My sister and I would snuggle down and
___________ stories and giggle and
laugh until we fell asleep.
What? What did you just ___________
Created by: LanguageAvenue.com
to me?"
Like I ___________ to you already, I
know him.
 Answer Key
1
2
Tol
Said d
Said Tel
Tell l
Told Tol
Said d
Said Sai
Tell d
Told Tel
Tell l
Said Sai
Tell d
Tell Tel
Says l
Tell Sai
Told d
Said Tel
Said l
Told Tel
Said l
Tell Say
Said Say
Tell Tel
Tells l
Tell Sai
Said d
Told Sai
Say d
Said Tel
Said l
Told Tel
Tell l
Say Tol
Said d
Tell Say
say Tol
d
Sai
d
Tel
l
Tel
l
Say
Sai
d

Created by: LanguageAvenue.com