In English grammar, 'say' is used to express words or thoughts without requiring a listener (e.g., 'Jay said he'll be late'), while 'tell' requires a personal object and is used to give information or instructions to someone (e.g., 'Jay told Maya that he'll be late'). In reported speech, 'say' focuses on what was spoken (e.g., 'Maya said that she'll come over later'), whereas 'tell' conveys a message or instruction to a specific person (e.g., 'Maya told her mother to take the medicine on time'). The key grammatical difference is that 'tell' is immediately followed by a personal object, while 'say' is not unless followed by 'to' (e.g., 'Robin said to me that he was tired' vs. 'Robin told me that he was tired').
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Say or Tell ? How to use in Direct or Reported speech | Learn English with me #englishgrammarAdded:
Do I use say or tell?
That is a very common question with students when they work on direct or reported speeches. So, let me answer this for you.
We use say to say something.
That means say is used to express words or thoughts, often focusing on what is spoken.
It doesn't need a listener.
For example, Jay said he'll be late.
Everyone says I look like my father.
Tell is used when you tell someone something. Which means tell is used to give instruction, information, or narrate something focusing on who is being spoken to.
For example, Jay told Maya that he'll be late.
Everyone told me that I look like my father.
Say something.
Tell someone something.
Say is extensively used in direct or reported speeches focusing on what is being spoken.
For example, Maya said that she'll come over later.
While tell is used in direct speeches only to give order or instruction to someone conveying a message or an information. For example, Maya told her mother to take the medicine on time. Say is not immediately followed a personal object unless followed by a two. For example, Robin said to me that he was tired.
Therefore, say to someone.
Tell is immediately followed by a personal object. That is the person being told. For example, Robin told me that he was tired.
Therefore, tell someone to verb. I hope this has clarified your doubt about say and tell.
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