When do we use said

One exception to this rule is that the verb tell can be used to describe the sharing of less factual information, such as jokes, stories, and lies, without mentioning a receiver of the information. There are other uses of both of these verbs. For more information about say and tell , follow the links below. Learner's Dictionary mobile search. Learner's Dictionary. Ask the Editor. Question When do you use said and told?

Below are some more detailed rules to follow for using these two verbs correctly, with examples. TELL Tell is used mainly to share information, and normally only when the receiver of the information is mentioned. Has she told you the good news, yet? Please tell us your name and occupation. Can you tell your story to me? The police officer told him to stop.

He loves telling stories. We cannot use say with these phrases:. The simple way to think of say and tell is: You say something You tell someone something You say something You tell someone something Ram said that he was tired.

Ram told Jane that he was tired. Anthony says you have a new job. Anthony tells me you have a new job. Tara said: "I love you. But, of course, it is not always so easy. Here are a few rules to help you.

We usually use say without a personal object: She told me that she loved John. She said that she loved John. He told everybody that he had to leave. He said that he had to leave. Say "to someone" With say , we sometimes use "to someone": He said to me that he was tired. Beside or besides? Between or among? Born or borne? Bring , take and fetch Can , could or may? Classic or classical?

Come or go? Consider or regard? Consist , comprise or compose? Content or contents? Different from , different to or different than? Do or make?

Down , downwards or downward? During or for? Each or every? East or eastern ; north or northern? Economic or economical? Efficient or effective? Elder , eldest or older , oldest? End or finish? Especially or specially? Except or except for? Expect , hope or wait? Experience or experiment? Fall or fall down? Far or a long way? Farther , farthest or further , furthest? Fast , quick or quickly? Fell or felt? Female or feminine ; male or masculine? Finally , at last , lastly or in the end?

First , firstly or at first? Fit or suit? Following or the following? For or since? Forget or leave? Full or filled?

Fun or funny? Get or go? Grateful or thankful? Hear or listen to? High or tall? Historic or historical? House or home? How is …? If or when? If or whether? Ill or sick? Imply or infer? In the way or on the way? Late or lately? Lay or lie? Lend or borrow? Less or fewer?

Look at , see or watch? Low or short? Man , mankind or people? Maybe or may be? Maybe or perhaps? Nearest or next? Never or not … ever? Nice or sympathetic?

No doubt or without doubt? No or not? Nowadays , these days or today? Open or opened? Opportunity or possibility? Opposite or in front of? Other , others , the other or another?