Say and Tell

Say and tell are both connected with speaking,

but they are used differently. Choosing the right
one doesnt have to be tricky. Weve
summarized the differences below.
I havent told Mabel about the cat yet. said Anna.

Havent you? What are you going to say? asked

Jane.

I dont know. Ill say something. replied Anna.

Why dont you just tell the truth? asked Jane.

That the cat ran away? No way! Hes back now

maybe I shouldnt say anything. said Jane.
 tell = say something to somebody
Example: I havent told Mabel about the cat yet.
Ill tell her the truth.

use tell with an indirect object (often an object pronoun: me, you, him
etc. But also a name or person: Mabel), the indirect object goes directly
after tell

Example: What did she tell you? (not: What did she tell?)
She told me that the cat had run away.

use tell without an indirect object in the following fixed expressions:

tell +
a lie Children shouldnt tell lies.
the truth I'm going to tell the truth.
a joke Max is great at telling jokes.
a story The children stayed up late telling ghost stories.
say = use words, speak

Example:I havent told Mabel about the cat yet. Said Anna.
What are you going to say?

dont use object pronouns directly after say

Example: What did she say? (not: What did she say you?)
She said that the cat had run away.

use the construction say + to + indirect object, to include an indirect

object

Example: What did she say to you?

use say with something and anything

Example: Did you say something? No I didnt say anything.