What is the difference between say and tell?

[robert]

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

[Daniela]

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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[Haihao]

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

[Yankee]

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:
- He said something.
- He said something to me.
- He told me something.

You cannot say the following:
- He said me something.

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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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Haihao]

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

[Alan]

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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