Say vs. tell
Choosing wordsRule 4 of 7
The rule
"Tell" needs a person right after it: "tell me", "tell the team". "Say" does not take a person as its object: you "say something", or "say something to someone". So it is "she told me the plan" but "she said the plan changed".
Wrong and right
-
Wrong He said me the meeting moved to Monday.
Right He told me the meeting moved to Monday.
-
Wrong Can you say me the wifi password?
Right Can you tell me the wifi password?
-
Wrong She told that she was busy this week.
Right She said that she was busy this week.
-
Wrong The manager said us to wait outside.
Right The manager told us to wait outside.
-
Wrong Please tell to him the news yourself.
Right Please tell him the news yourself.