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What is the difference between say and tell?



 
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Meaning of "between you and me" | Expression "it's only hear say"
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What is the difference between say and tell? Thu Apr 06, 2006 16:12 pm  What is the difference between say and tell?
 

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #9 "Say vs. Tell", question 10

I'm afraid I can't ......... for sure but I think it's safe.

(a) said
(b) says
(c) say
(d) telling

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #9 "Say vs. Tell", answer 10

I'm afraid I can't say for sure but I think it's safe.

Correct answer: (c) say
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what is the difference between say and tell?

robert
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Say vs. tell Thu Apr 06, 2006 18:37 pm  Say vs. tell
 

Hi Robert,
The basic difference is that TELL usually takes an object; tell someone. If we use "tell" in this sentence, it will look like this:
I'm afraid I can't tell you (object) for sure but I think it's safe.
SAY does not take an object. Consider this example:
- I can't tell you - he said.
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Say vs. tell Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:01 am  Say vs. tell
 

Hi,

I am also confused with say and tell from time to time. For example, in a conversation a person told the other as:

'It's hard to say, Jane.' or 'It's hard to tell, Naomi.' seems equally natural to me. What's the difference here?

Thank you.
haihao
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Say vs. tell Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:17 am  Say vs. tell
 

Hi Haihao

There isn't really any difference in meaning between your two examples and you're right in thinking that they're both natural.

The verb 'say' can take an object, but it doesn't have to. To me, the main difference is that 'say' would be followed directly by "what is said" rather than "whom". If you want to include the idea of "whom" then you also need to use 'to + whom' and it should follow 'what':

You can say the following: Very Happy
- He said something.
- He said something to me.
- He told me something.


You cannot say the following:
- He said me something. Crying or Very sad Mad

Your sentences use infinitives (and the names are forms of address rather than objects), but you might think of them as ellipted this way, for example:

'It's hard to say (what will happen), Jane.'
'It's hard to tell (you what will happen), Naomi.'

Amy
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Say vs. tell Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:16 am  Say vs. tell
 

Hi Amy,

Your detailed and patient interpretations (as always) have not only given me the explicit answers to the questions but also widened my vision and understanding for English. I am sure all of your loving students on this site would agree with me. At least one thing we shouldn't forget is the fact that we ESL students here have paid nothing to our teachers, no money, no quid pro quo, no respect (?), no nothing. Why our teachers should do all these charities to us for nothing? So they are bound to deserve at least our respect.

Sorry for the digression and thank you again.

haihao
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Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1306
Location: Japan

Say vs. tell Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:27 am  Say vs. tell
 

Hi Haihao,

Another point to bear in mind is that 'say' likes to have a direct object first and can be followed by an indirect object afterwards whereas 'tell' can take direct and indirect in any order. This shows the basic difference in meaning between the two verbs with 'tell' suggesting 'relate' and 'say' suggesting 'speak'.

A
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