Grammar
A2–B2
6 min read
Updated 9 June 2026
Quick Answer
Tell requires a person object (tell someone something: tell me a story, tell her the truth). Say does not require a person object (say something: she said hello, he said that he was tired). If you want to include the listener with say, use to: she said it to me.
Say and tell both refer to communicating information, but they follow different grammatical patterns. Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes in English reported speech. Once you learn the key structural difference, choosing correctly becomes automatic.
The Core Structural Difference
| Verb | Pattern | Person object required? | Example |
|---|
| say | say + (something) | No (optional with to) | She said hello. / She said it to me. |
| tell | tell + person + (something) | Yes | She told me hello. / He told her the news. |
Using “Say”
Say is used to report words or information without needing to mention who the listener is. If you do want to mention the listener, you must use to.
She said goodbye. (no listener mentioned)
He said that he was tired.
They said the meeting was cancelled.
She said it to me. (listener mentioned with ‘to’)
Key Pattern
say + (that) + clause: She said that she was leaving.
say + to + person: He said it to his manager.
Using “Tell”
Tell always requires a person (or pronoun) immediately after it — you always tell someone something. You cannot use tell without mentioning who was told.
She told me the news.
He told her to wait.
They told us that the flight was delayed.
Can you tell me the way to the station?
Key Pattern
tell + person + (that) + clause: He told me that he was leaving.
tell + person + to + infinitive: She told him to be quiet.
Common Mistakes
She told that she was late.
She said that she was late. (no person object — use say)
He said me to sit down.
He told me to sit down. (giving instruction to a person — use tell)
She said to me that I should try harder.
She told me that I should try harder. (more natural with tell when person is mentioned)
Fixed Expressions with Tell
Several fixed idiomatic expressions use tell:
- tell the truth — please tell the truth
- tell a lie — he was telling a lie
- tell a story — she told the children a story
- tell a joke — he always tells good jokes
- tell the time — can you tell the time?
- tell the difference — I can’t tell the difference between them
Fixed Expressions with Say
- say hello / goodbye — she said goodbye
- say yes / no — he said yes to the offer
- say sorry — she said sorry for being late
- say please / thank you — always say please
- say a prayer — they said a prayer
Say and Tell in Reported Speech
Both verbs are essential in reported speech. The choice still depends on the same rule: does a person object follow immediately?
Direct: “I am tired.” → Reported: She said (that) she was tired.
Direct: “Be quiet.” → Reported: He told us to be quiet.
Direct: “The train is late.” → Reported: She told me (that) the train was late.
Direct: “The train is late.” → Reported: She said (that) the train was late.
Related Grammar Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between say and tell?
Tell always requires a person object immediately after it — you tell someone something: tell me, tell her, tell us. Say does not require a person object — you simply say something: she said hello, he said that he was late. If you want to include the listener with say, use the preposition to: she said it to me. This is the central structural difference between the two verbs.
Can I say "She told that she was late"?
No. This is incorrect. Tell must be followed by a person: she told me / she told us / she told him. Without a person, use say: She said that she was late. The pattern is: tell + person + (that) + clause. If there is no person after tell, the sentence is a grammar error.
Is it "He said me" or "He told me"?
It is "He told me." You cannot say "He said me" — say does not take a direct person object (without a preposition). The correct forms are: He told me (that) he was coming. He said (that) he was coming. He said it to me. The pattern "said me" does not exist in English; use told me instead.
How do I use say and tell in reported speech?
In reported speech, say is used when you do not mention the listener: She said she was tired / She said the flight was cancelled. Tell is used when you do mention the listener: She told me she was tired / She told the passengers the flight was cancelled. Both verbs trigger backshift of tenses in reported speech (present simple becomes past simple, etc.).
What fixed expressions use "tell"?
Common fixed expressions with tell include: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell a joke, tell the time, tell the difference, tell someone off (to scold), tell apart (to distinguish). Most of these require tell because they imply communicating to someone. Note that in "tell the time" and "tell the difference," no person is mentioned, but these are fixed idiomatic expressions that must use tell.
What fixed expressions use "say"?
Common fixed expressions with say include: say hello / goodbye / sorry / please / thank you, say yes / no, say a prayer, say a few words, have a say (meaning to have an opinion or influence). These are all fixed phrases that must use say — you cannot substitute tell. For example, "say sorry" is correct; "tell sorry" is wrong.
Can I use "tell" to give instructions?
Yes. Tell + person + to + infinitive is the standard pattern for reporting instructions and commands: She told him to sit down. The teacher told the students to open their books. He told her not to worry. This pattern uses tell (not say), because an instruction is directed at a specific person. Saying "She said him to sit down" is incorrect.
Is "say to me" correct?
Yes. When you want to include the listener with say, you must use to: She said goodbye to me. He said it to the whole group. What did you say to her? The preposition to is required — you cannot say "She said me goodbye." Compare: She told me goodbye (tell takes a direct object without preposition) vs She said goodbye to me (say requires to before the person).
What is the past tense of say and tell?
Both are irregular verbs. Say → said (past simple), said (past participle). Tell → told (past simple), told (past participle). Examples: She said she was tired. He told me the truth. They have said nothing. We have told him already. Pronunciation note: said rhymes with "bed," not "paid."
Can both say and tell introduce a that-clause?
Yes, both can introduce a that-clause. With say: She said (that) she was leaving (no person needed). With tell: She told me (that) she was leaving (person required before the clause). The word that is optional in both cases and is often omitted in spoken English. What changes is whether a person object is present before the clause — tell requires one; say does not.