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Say vs Tell – Stop Making This Common Mistake
In this episode of 5-Minute English Talk, we break down the difference between “say” and “tell” in a simple, clear, and practical way — so you can start using them correctly right away.Here’s the key rule:
Use “tell” when you mention a person.
“She told me that she was tired.”
“He told us a funny story.”
Use “say” when there is no person, or with “that.”
“She said that she was tired.”
“They said they would come tomorrow.”
We also fix common mistakes like:
Wrong: “She said me the news.”
Correct: “She told me the news.”
Wrong: “He said her a secret.”
Correct: “He told her a secret.”
You’ll also hear a natural conversation:
“What did the boss say about the meeting?”
“He told me it will start at ten.”
“He also said that we need to bring our reports.”
“Did he tell you anything else?”
By the end of this episode, you’ll clearly understand when to use say and tell, and your English will sound more natural and correct instantly.
Remember:
Tell = person (tell me, tell him, tell her)
Say = no person (say something, say that)
Follow our show if you want to improve your English step by step.
We focus on simple, practical English you can use in real conversations - every single day.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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By 5 Minutes English TalkIn this episode of 5-Minute English Talk, we break down the difference between “say” and “tell” in a simple, clear, and practical way — so you can start using them correctly right away.Here’s the key rule:
Use “tell” when you mention a person.
“She told me that she was tired.”
“He told us a funny story.”
Use “say” when there is no person, or with “that.”
“She said that she was tired.”
“They said they would come tomorrow.”
We also fix common mistakes like:
Wrong: “She said me the news.”
Correct: “She told me the news.”
Wrong: “He said her a secret.”
Correct: “He told her a secret.”
You’ll also hear a natural conversation:
“What did the boss say about the meeting?”
“He told me it will start at ten.”
“He also said that we need to bring our reports.”
“Did he tell you anything else?”
By the end of this episode, you’ll clearly understand when to use say and tell, and your English will sound more natural and correct instantly.
Remember:
Tell = person (tell me, tell him, tell her)
Say = no person (say something, say that)
Follow our show if you want to improve your English step by step.
We focus on simple, practical English you can use in real conversations - every single day.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.