ESL	Using SAY
	Blues	and TELL

Here are some of the most common errors using SAY and TELL. The correct form is given first.

• He said (that) he could not come to the party.
• He told me (that) he could not come to the party.
  • When talking about what someone said, we use TELL when we mention the person spoken to (here = "me"). TELL is not often used for direct speech. See next item.

• He said, "I cannot come to the party."
• He told me, "I cannot come to the party."
  • When we wish to give the exact words spoken (direct speech), we normally use SAY. We can use TELL for direct speech when we are giving a command or instructions.
    
    There were a lot of people in the street so I told my daughter: "Stay near me. You won't get lost that way."

• It's not true. You are telling lies.
• It's not true. You are saying lies.
• I like it when Bob tells stories. He's a great storyteller.
• I like it when Bob says stories. He's a great storyteller.
• We use TELL rather than SAY with certain expression:
  • tell a joke
  • tell a lie
  • tell a secret
  • tell a story
  • tell the truth
and in these cases it is not necessary to mention the person that one is speaking to:

The children were too excited to sleep so I told (them) a bedtime story

• It's snowing. I knew it would and I said so.
• It's snowing. I knew it would and I said it.
• It's snowing. I knew it would and I told you so.
• It's snowing. I knew it would and I told you it.
  • It is better to use "so" rather than "it" in these situations. It is certainly more common.