Difference between say and tell

[CLAU]

Test No. incompl/inter-9 "Say/Tell", question 7

It's no good trying to persuade me because I'm not ......... a word.

(a) tells
(b) saying
(c) telling
(d) told

Test No. incompl/inter-9 "Say/Tell", answer 7

It's no good trying to persuade me because I'm not saying a word.

Correct answer: (b) saying

Your answer was: incorrect
It's no good trying to persuade me because I'm not telling a word.
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hello
would you explain me what is the difference between TELL and SAY in this context?
THANK YOU

[Torsten]

Please, take a look at these three sentences:

Maria didn't say anything.
Maria didn't tell her husband anything.
Maria didn't say anything to her husband.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[vivek kumar mishra]

[Anjuvaidoo]

what is the exact difference between say vs tell?

[Alan]

Hi,

'Say' is usually used as another word for 'speak' as you can see in the examples above. 'Tell' is usually used with the meaning of 'relate' (a story) or 'inform'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Prepositions

[Nganguyen]

Hello Alan
In the sentence : It's no good trying to persuade me because I'm not saying a word.
Can you explain for me what is word : persuade in this sentence means? Thanks again.

[Torsten]

"Persuade" in this sentence means to "try to make the other person act or think in a certain way".
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Nganguyen]

Thank you Torsten for your explaination .I'm clear now. and I really don't understand why it will be stop to send my next lesson just because I am watching on topic ? Will you please let me know why ? Thank you.

[RichardW]

Hi.
Thank you Torsten and Alan.
as far as I'm concerned.
1-You can tell someone about something ( Did you tell Linda about me....? (NOT say to Linda about...)
2-You can say to do something, but it is more usual to tell someone to do something
The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to...).
3- say is not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by 'a story', 'a lie', 'some information', or 'an answer'. You tell a story, a joke, a lie, or the truth
4-You use say when you are mentioning someone's exact words. for instance, 'Hello,' she said. or Someone said, 'Let's go!'
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The limits of my language are the limits of my universe.
Ludwig Wittgenstein