Welcome to twominenglish.com. Teaching you English through two-minute lessons.
In this lesson you will learn about ‘say’ and ‘tell’ and how to use them in your conversations.
When we say something, it doesn’t need to be to a specific person.
It just means that you are speaking. “That’s what everybody is saying.” In this phrase, everybody is saying something, but not to any specific person.
We can also use “say” to report things, such as “He said that he was on time.”
Right. But we always tell something to someone, like telling your daughter a story.
Yes! And you can also use “tell” to report things: “He told her he was on time”.
We use “tell” to give facts and information to someone. For example, let me tell you something, Nina: I got the grade I needed!
Congratulations Max! I knew you’d pass. Now why don’t you tell me more about the difference between say and tell?
That’s pretty much what there is to it, Nina. Let’s listen to some conversations for more examples.
Hey, I heard you got a new job.
Yes, who told you? Did Max tell you I got a new job?
Yes, Max told me that.
Trust Max to quickly spread the news around. What else did he say?
He said that you got a 30% raise too.
Yeah! I am so happy!
You deserve it! I can’t wait to tell Cynthia.
Hey John, I have a secret to tell you.
Tell me! I love secrets and gossips.
Well, Max said that he would ask his new girlfriend to marry him.
Max really told you that?
Yes, he told me that he had got a promotion at work, so he could marry her.
That's incredible. Anne said she had seen him with another girl just last week.
Oops, maybe he's a player. Don't tell anyone then!
I won't tell anybody. Better to let them sort it out themselves.
Never tell a secret; it will always come back to haunt you.
Hey Karen, did you see the new action movie at the cinema?
No, the critics said it was bad.
Oh, they always say that. They also said Mission Impossible was bad, but it was good.
So, about the new movie. Tell me about it.
I have to say it is a good movie, but too much action and not enough story.
Tell me, who went with you?
I took Elizabeth. She told me she didn't like action films, but I took her anyway.
Did she like it?
No, she was bored. She got on her phone and messaged her friends all through the movie.
That’s irritating. Didn’t you tell her to stop?
No, I didn’t. I wanted to focus on the movie, so I didn’t say anything.
Did Max tell you I got a new job?
What else did he say?
I can’t wait to tell Cynthia.
Hey John, I have a secret to tell you.
Well, Max said that he would ask his new girlfriend to marry him.
Anne said she had seen him with another girl just last week.
Oh, they always say that.