Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #128184: Say or tell

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Say or tell

Say and tell have basically the same meaning.However we use them differently.

1.We can use 'say' without indicating who we are talking to.

Examples: say goodbye say where you live say what you'd like to drink.

Say him goodbye is not correct. Say goodbye to him is correct.

2.Tell is usually followed by a word that indicates who we are talking to.

Tell him I can't talk to him. He told the boys to start working. I'll tell you about my trip tomorrow.

Exceptions: we don't need to indicate who we are talking to with the expressions tell the truth/tell a lie/tell a story.

We can say I told him a lie or I told a lie.

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English exercise "Say or tell" created by ddec with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from ddec]
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1. Yesterday we her to send us the form.

2. He his mother he loved his new girlfriend.

3. I it would be too complicated.

4. He us about his project tomorrow.

5. Last week we we would help him.

6. He's honest.He always the truth.

7. Listen to me ! I'm going to you the truth.

8. Please the teacher that I'll be late.

9. He often that he would like to have a big family.

10. He is that he won't come with us on the outing.

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