Go to Top

Say or Tell

You tell someone something, but you say something.

Lion cub saying something and a kitten telling the lion something.

‘I am telling you that it is my bowl.’
‘I say that it is mine.’

You tell someone something.
• Gary told Tim that he was tired.
(Tim = Someone) (. . . that he was tired. = tell something)
You say something.
• Gary said that he was tired.
(. . . that he was tired. = Say something)

• Anthony says you have a new job.
• Anthony tells me you have a new job.
• Tara said: ‘I love you.’
• Tara told John that she loved him.

Remember: Tell someone. Say something.

  • Exercise 1

    Remember: Tell someone. Say something.

    Look at these examples then choose say or tell to complete the rules.

    Remember: Tell someone. Say something.

    Look at these examples then choose say or tell to complete the rules.
    • She said that she loved chocolate.
    • She told me that she loved chocolate.

    Exercise 2

    Remember: Tell someone. Say something.

    Use either say, said, tell or told to complete each sentence.

    Remember: Tell someone. Say something.

    Use either say, said, tell or told to complete each sentence.

    Exercise 3

    Use either say, said, tell or told  to complete each sentence.

    Use either say, said, tell or told to complete each sentence.

    Exercise 4

    Use the correct form of say or tell  to complete the expression in each sentence.

    Use the correct form of say or tell to complete the expression in each sentence.

  • Say or tell
    Do this video lesson if you need more help. (3:30)

    Vocabulary Video Lesson: Bottles
    English vocabulary lesson with words connected to bottles. This lesson will help you define bottle, neck, bottle top, bottle opener, label, cork, corkscrew and screw top. (8:00)

    If you only have two minutes then do this lesson.
    Its or it’s? (2:00)