TELL AND SAY

IDIOMAS I

Maria Isabel Restrepo Agudelo

Docente
Diana Carolina Toro Ocampo

CORPORACION UNIVERSITARIA UNIREMINGTON

ANDES-ANTIOQUIA
2020
 TELL AND SAY
This verbs mean the same thing in Spanish but are used to different situations in English.
Generally, say is used to say something and tell to tell someone something. There are some
rules that let us know when to use each case. SAY isn’t used with a personal object, that is
to say, it is not known to who it is directed but we use to someone, for example she loves to
him, we also use say with direct speech to express what someone has said and finally with
directs questions where it is only used say why tell is not permitted. On the other hand, we
use TELL only with direct speech that is an instruction or information and with reference to
someone and we also use tell with a personal object that is the person who did the action.

DIFFERENCES
 The biggest difference between say and tell is that say is used to say something and
tell is used to tell someone something, this is very important.
 Tell is used saying who is speaking while say is used to quote
 Say is used with personal object and tell is used without personal object
 Tell do not use “to” to refer to someone, but say could do it for example:
She told me – she said to me
 Say is used with direct speech and tell only when direct speech is an instruction on
information
 We cannot use tell with direct question and say is used with direct question
 Tell means “decir” and “contar “ in Spanish while say means “decir” and other
 There are cases where we must always use tell and others where we must use say as:
Tell me: we cannot use say
 Tell is used to express what someone should do and say no
 Tell is used to express a done while say is used to express what someone told to
someone can you tell why do you arrive late

EXAMPLES:

SAY
 “I’m very bored in my house” Luisa said
 She said to travel to France the next week
 ¿what did he say?
 I didn’t say nothing
 Andres said that he was very happy with his new car
 My cousin said “I am very tired”
 My mother said to me that she was very sad
 “A person missed the English exam” teacher said
  My grandmother said the dog is very big
 Paola said the exam is tomorrow
TELL
 Can you tell me why do you arrive late?
 Tell me where your mom’s house is
 Juan told Mary “close the windows now”
 My grandfather told me that he loves his cat
 My daughter told him that she going to Ireland
 Pablo told him “eat some food”
 Tell me the truth
 Tell us about your holidays
 Carla told me that she is happy
 She told them “I going to Italy the next Friday”