SAY VS TELL

SAY VS TELL

1. use:

   • The main meaning of tell is "to say or write something to someone". The main meaning of saying is "use your voice to express something with words."
     • Say :"Say" is used in the direct and indirect style. If we want to use "say" with a personal object, we need to use the preposition "to"
     • You can also use "tell" with the direct and indirect style, although use with the direct style is not as common. When we use "tell" we need to use an indirect object that follows the verb.

2. Conjugation of the past perfect continuous with say and tell

   • (+)Subject + “had” + “been” + verb+ing+complement.
     • I had been saying
     • I had been telling
   • (-)Subject + “had” + “not” + “been” + verb+ing+ complement.
     • I had not been saying
     • I had not been telling.
   • (?)“Had” + subject + “been” + verb+ing+ complement?
     • had I been saying?
     • Had I been telling?

3. Conjugation of say and tell in perfect future and future perfect continuous

   • Perfect future
     • (+) Subject + will + have + past participle +Complent .
       • We will have said
       • We will have told
     • (-) Subject + will not + have + past participle +Complement .
       • We will not have said
       • We will not have told
     • (?) Will+Subject+have+ past participle+complement+?
       • Will We have said?
       • Will We have told?
   • future perfect continuous
     • (+) Subject + will + have + been + verb in the –ing form +complement
       • You will have been saying.
       • You will have been telling.
     • (-) Subject + will not+ have + been + verb in the –ing form +complement
       • You will not have been saying
       • You will not have been telling
     • (?)Will+Subject+have+been+ verb in the –ing form +complement+?
       • Will You have been saying?
       • Will You have been telling?

4. Other uses of “tell”

   • Tell" is used with commands or instructions
   • We use "tell" when we give or ask for information
   • Tell is used with stories or jokes. In this case, “tell” can be translated as “count” in Spanish.
   • With truth and lies, "tell" is used.
   • We use "tell" with time or date.

5. We may also use “tell” in both direct and indirect or reported speech, although it is not so common. When we use “tell” we must use a indirect object immediately after the verb. We do not use the preposition “to”, as with “say

   • Direct Speech :He told me, I´m hungry Glen told Mike, I need your help
   • Indirect Speech : He told me that he was hungry Glen told Mike that he needed his help

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