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ESL forum > Message board > DIFFERENCE BTWN SAY & TELL    

DIFFERENCE BTWN SAY & TELL



Mar0919
Mexico

DIFFERENCE BTWN SAY & TELL
 

Hi, everyone! Can somebody plz explain the difference btwn say & tell?

As I learned it:
 
Say : when someone expresses something
(Mary SAID she was tired.)
 
Tell: when someone expresses something TO someone else.
(Mary TOLD me she was tired.)
 
Is this correct?
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Mar

1 Feb 2011      





Errie
Japan

You are correct.
 
Here �s another way of saying it.
 
Mary TOLD me she was tired/Mary TOLD me that she was tired
 
Mary said to me that she was tired so she couldn �t come to the party last night.
 
 
 
 

1 Feb 2011     



douglas
United States

Yes, tell needs a direct object, say doesn �t.

1 Feb 2011     



blunderbuster
Germany

"Tell" is normally followed by the listener ;o) That is how I explain it. "Say" is normally followed by what is being said, if floowed by the listener, there is a "to" between "tell" and the listener.

Write "tell +" and draw an ear next to it, write "say +" and draw a speech bubble, that explains it.

1 Feb 2011     



Mar0919
Mexico

Thank you so much, everyone, for your responses. Blunderbuster, great idea! Thanks!
 
Hugs!

1 Feb 2011