How do you use "say vs tell" in a sentence?

She said (that) she was tired.' (no object needed) She told me (that) she was tired.' (object required) He said, 'I'm leaving.'' (direct speech) He told them the news.' (indirect object required)

say vs tell

Q: What does "say vs tell" mean?

Two ways to report what someone said 'Say' is followed directly by what was said (say + something). 'Tell' must have an object - the person being told (tell + someone + something). This is a common error for learners to mix up.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: Two ways to report what someone said

报告某人所说内容的两种方式

Dos maneras de reportar lo que alguien dijo

誰かが言ったことを報告する2つの方法

누군가가 말한 것을 전달하는 두 가지 방법

'Say' is followed directly by what was said (say + something). 'Tell' must have an object - the person being told (tell + someone + something). This is a common error for learners to mix up.

'Say'后面直接跟所说的内容（say + something）。'Tell'必须有宾语——被告知的人（tell + someone + something）。这是学习者常犯的错误。

'Say' va seguido directamente de lo que se dijo (say + algo). 'Tell' debe tener un objeto - la persona a quien se le dice (tell + alguien + algo). Este es un error común para los estudiantes.

「Say」は言った内容が直接続きます（say + something）。「Tell」には目的語（伝えられる人）が必要です（tell + someone + something）。これは学習者がよく間違えるところです。

'say'는 말한 내용이 바로 뒤따릅니다(say + 내용). 'tell'은 반드시 듣는 사람이 목적어로 와야 합니다(tell + 사람 + 내용). 학습자들이 흔히 혼동하는 부분입니다.

Examples

She said (that) she was tired.' (no object needed)
她说她累了。'（不需要宾语）
Ella dijo que estaba cansada.' (no se necesita objeto)
彼女は疲れたと言いました。'（目的語不要）
그녀는 피곤하다고 말했습니다.' (목적어 불필요)
She told me (that) she was tired.' (object required)
她告诉我她累了。'（需要宾语）
Ella me dijo que estaba cansada.' (se requiere objeto)
彼女は私に疲れたと言いました。'（目的語必要）
그녀는 나에게 피곤하다고 말했습니다.' (목적어 필수)
He said, 'I'm leaving.'' (direct speech)
他说，'我要走了。''（直接引语）
Él dijo: 'Me voy.'' (discurso directo)
彼は「出発します」と言いました。'（直接話法）
그는 '떠납니다'라고 말했습니다.' (직접 화법)
He told them the news.' (indirect object required)
他告诉他们这个消息。'（需要间接宾语）
Él les contó la noticia.' (se requiere objeto indirecto)
彼は彼らにニュースを伝えました。'（間接目的語必要）
그는 그들에게 그 소식을 전했습니다.' (간접 목적어 필수)

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: reporting

✓ Do Say

She said she would come.
她说她会来。
Ella dijo que vendría.
彼女は来ると言いました。
She said she would come.
He told us the truth.
他告诉我们真相。
Él nos dijo la verdad.
彼は私たちに真実を話しました。
He told us the truth.
They said it was difficult.
他们说很难。
Ellos dijeron que era difícil.
彼らは難しいと言いました。
They said it was difficult.
I told her about the meeting.
我告诉了她会议的事。
Le conté sobre la reunión.
私は彼女に会議のことを伝えました。
I told her about the meeting.

✗ Don't Say

She said me that... (say doesn't take indirect object)
She said me that...（say不带间接宾语）
She said me that... (say no toma objeto indirecto)
She said me that...（sayは間接目的語を取らない）
She said me that... (say는 간접 목적어를 취하지 않음)
He told that... (tell needs an object)
He told that...（tell需要宾语）
He told that... (tell necesita un objeto)
He told that...（tellには目的語が必要）
He told that... (tell은 목적어가 필요)
She told to me... (no preposition needed)
She told to me...（不需要介词）
She told to me... (no se necesita preposición)
She told to me...（前置詞は不要）
She told to me... (전치사 불필요)

Origin & History

Reporting verbs in English

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal