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

She said she was happy.' (no object) She told me she was happy.' (with object) He explained that it was difficult. They promised they would help.

say vs tell

Q: What does "say vs tell" mean?

Using the right reporting verb 'Say' doesn't take a personal object: 'She said (that)...' 'Tell' requires a personal object: 'She told me (that)...' Other reporting verbs include: explain, mention, admit, claim, promise, warn.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: Using the right reporting verb

使用正确的转述动词

Usar el verbo de reporte correcto

正しい伝達動詞を使う

올바른 전달 동사 사용하기

'Say' doesn't take a personal object: 'She said (that)...' 'Tell' requires a personal object: 'She told me (that)...' Other reporting verbs include: explain, mention, admit, claim, promise, warn.

'Say'后不接人称宾语：'She said (that)...' 'Tell'后必须接人称宾语：'She told me (that)...' 其他转述动词包括：explain, mention, admit, claim, promise, warn。

'Say' no lleva objeto personal: 'She said (that)...' 'Tell' requiere objeto personal: 'She told me (that)...' Otros verbos de reporte incluyen: explain, mention, admit, claim, promise, warn.

「Say」は人称目的語を取りません：「She said (that)...」「Tell」は人称目的語が必要です：「She told me (that)...」他の伝達動詞には：explain, mention, admit, claim, promise, warnがあります。

'Say'는 인칭 목적어를 취하지 않습니다: 'She said (that)...' 'Tell'은 인칭 목적어가 필요합니다: 'She told me (that)...' 기타 전달 동사로는 explain, mention, admit, claim, promise, warn 등이 있습니다.

Examples

She said she was happy.' (no object)
她说她很高兴。'（无宾语）
Ella dijo que estaba feliz.' (sin objeto)
彼女は幸せだと言いました。'（目的語なし）
그녀는 행복하다고 말했다. (목적어 없음)
She told me she was happy.' (with object)
她告诉我她很高兴。'（有宾语）
Ella me dijo que estaba feliz.' (con objeto)
彼女は私に幸せだと言いました。'（目的語あり）
그녀는 나에게 행복하다고 말했다. (목적어 있음)
He explained that it was difficult.
他解释说这很难。
Él explicó que era difícil.
彼は難しいと説明しました。
그는 그것이 어렵다고 설명했다.
They promised they would help.
他们承诺会帮忙。
Prometieron que ayudarían.
彼らは助けると約束しました。
그들은 도와주겠다고 약속했다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: reporting

✓ Do Say

She said it was fine.
她说没问题。
Ella dijo que estaba bien.
彼女は大丈夫だと言いました。
그녀는 괜찮다고 말했다.
She told him it was fine.
她告诉他没问题。
Ella le dijo que estaba bien.
彼女は彼に大丈夫だと言いました。
그녀는 그에게 괜찮다고 말했다.
He mentioned he was busy.
他提到他很忙。
Él mencionó que estaba ocupado.
彼は忙しいと言っていました。
그는 바쁘다고 언급했다.
They admitted they were wrong.
他们承认他们错了。
Admitieron que estaban equivocados.
彼らは間違っていたと認めました。
그들은 자신들이 틀렸다고 인정했다.
She told me it was fine.
她告诉我没问题。
Ella me dijo que estaba bien.
彼女は大丈夫だと私に言いました。
그녀는 나에게 괜찮다고 말했습니다.
He mentioned that...
他提到……
Él mencionó que...
彼は…と言っていました。
그는 ...라고 언급했습니다.

✗ Don't Say

She said me it was fine. (say = no object)
She said me it was fine.（say不接宾语）
She said me it was fine. (say no lleva complemento de persona)
She said me it was fine.（say = 目的語なし）
She said me it was fine.（say = 목적어 없음）
She told it was fine. (tell = needs object)
She told it was fine.（tell需要宾语）
She told it was fine. (tell necesita complemento de persona)
She told it was fine.（tell = 目的語が必要）
She told it was fine.（tell = 목적어가 필요）
He mentioned me that... (mention = no object)
He mentioned me that...（mention不接宾语）
He mentioned me that... (mention no lleva complemento de persona)
He mentioned me that...（mention = 目的語なし）
He mentioned me that...（mention = 목적어 없음）

Origin & History

Reporting verb distinction

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal