English word choices
Say vs Tell: Examples and Practice
She said the café was closed. She told me the café was closed. The message is the same, but the sentence pattern changes.
The short answer
Say something: She said the café was closed.
Tell someone something: She told me the café was closed.
With say, use to if you name the listener: She said to me, “The café is closed.” Do not put me directly after said.
This pattern is for passing on a message. Expressions such as tell a story and tell the truth also work without naming a listener.
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Prompt
Pass on the message without naming a listener. Maya ___ the café was closed. Choose say, tell, said or told.
Answer and explanation
Maya said the café was closed. The message follows said directly.
Prompt
Now name the listener: you received the message. Maya ___ me the café was closed. Choose say, tell, said or told.
Answer and explanation
Maya told me the café was closed. Told is followed by me, then the message.
Prompt
You recognise a neighbour and greet them. I stopped to ___ hello. Choose say, tell, said or told.
Answer and explanation
I stopped to say hello. Say hello is the usual expression.
Prompt
Someone asks for a story. No listener is named after the verb. Could you ___ a story? Choose say, tell, said or told.
Answer and explanation
Could you tell a story? Tell a story works without naming a listener.
Prompt
The driver gave the group an instruction. The driver ___ us to wait here. Choose say, tell, said or told.
Answer and explanation
The driver told us to wait here. Use told someone to do something for this instruction.
Prompt
You did not hear the message. What did Maya ___? Choose say, tell, said or told.
Answer and explanation
What did Maya say? Use say after did. No listener follows it here.
Useful patterns to keep
- Say hello, say goodbye: I stopped to say hello.
- Tell a story, tell a joke, tell the truth: Could you tell a story?
- Tell someone to do something: The driver told us to wait here.
The past forms are said and told. After did, use say or tell: What did she say? / Did she tell you?
These examples focus on speech. Tell has other uses, such as tell the difference, where it means recognise a difference.
References: Cambridge: say or tell and British Council: expressions with tell.