Et maintenant in English

Say and tell: What did she say? What did she tell you?

Garry Littman

(English verbs: say and tell)

Level: A2 to C1

By Benedicte Gravrand, English language trainer at The Language House

 

The verbs say and tell are very similar, but say is more about expressing something, and tell is more about informing or instructing someone.

Example:

Mary: Where’s John. He said he was coming to the party.

John: That’s funny, he told me he had an important meeting. He said he wouldn’t be here until 9pm.

Mary: He didn’t tell me that. He doesn’t always tell the truth, does he? He often says one thing and does something else.

 

Say (said, said): used for all sorts of speech.

 

Tell (told, told): used to mean ‘instruct’ or ‘inform’. After tell, we usually say who is told, for example: he only told one person where the money was.

 

To subscribe to our blog, leave your email address

(right-hand side column),

and confirm your subscription by email.

 

Music

 

Say It Ain’t So Joe, by Murray Head

 

 

Say and tell phrases

 

There are many phrases with say and tell. Here are just a few of them:

  1. Having said that: add an opinion that seems to be the opposite of what you have just said, although you think both are true

It’s expensive. Having said that, I must admit that it is very well made.

  1. I wouldn’t say no (to something): you would like something, especially something that has been offered to you

I wouldn’t say no to another piece of cake.

  1. (just) say the word: you are ready to do something for someone

We can go whenever you like. Just say the word.

  1. go without saying (that): completely obvious or true

It goes without saying that I’m sorry.

  1. that’s​/​it’s easier said than done: telling someone that what they are advising you to do is not easy to achieve

He told me not to worry, but that’s easier said than done.

  1. that’s not saying much: emphasize that something is not very unusual, surprising, or impressive

It’s better than the old one, but that’s not saying much.

  1. I couldn’t tell you: you do not know the answer to a question, especially when you do not want to be helpful

‘What time will he be back?’ – ‘I couldn’t tell you.’

  1. I told you (so): you warned someone that something bad would happen and you have now been proved right

I told you it wouldn’t work.

See, it broke! I told you so.

  1. tell it like it is: to give the real facts about something, even if they are unpleasant

You can always rely on Jane to tell it like it is.

  1. tell me about it: you already know about something unpleasant that someone has just described because you have experienced it yourself

‘I’m so overworked.’ ‘Tell me about it!’

  1. to tell (you) the truth: what you really think or feel

To tell you the truth, I’m completely bored.

  1. you never can tell: it is impossible to be certain about something

You can never tell how long these meetings will last.

 

* Definitions and examples from MacmillanDictionary.com

 

 

Say and tell exercise

Complete the dialogue between a man and a police inspector with say or tell (conjugated).

 

 

Check your answers

 

For more crime-related reading, see our post on Agatha Christie: Be careful. That knife is sharp.