She said that …He told me that … (Reported Speech)

Question 1

+We use say and tell in different ways in reported speech.

+ SAY focuses on the WORDS someone said and TELL focuses MORE ON THE CONTENT or MESSAGE of WHAT someone said.

Answer 1

…Hello,’ she said. (Not: ‘Hello,’ she told.)

…She told him they were going on holiday. (The focus is on the information.)

Question 2

We can use say and tell to report statements in DIRECT speech, but SAY is more COMMON.

Answer 2

…‘I’ll give you a ring tomorrow,’ she said.

Question 3

We don’t always mention the person being spoken to with SAY, but IF WE DO mention THEM, we use a prepositional phrase with TO (to me, to Lorna):

Answer 3

…‘Try to stay calm,’ she said TO us in a low voice. (Not: ‘Try to stay calm,’ she said us in a low voice.)

Question 4

+With TELL, we always mention THE PERSON being spoken to; we use an INDIRECT object:

+However, we use tell without an indirect object with words such as the TRUTH, a LIE, a JOKE, a STORY:

Answer 4

…‘Enjoy yourselves,’ he told THEM. (Not: ‘Enjoy yourselves,’ he told.)

…You should never tell a LIE. (Not: … say a lie.)
…Come on Kevin. You’re good at telling JOKES.

Question 5

In INDIRECT speech, SAY and TELL are both common as reporting verbs. We DON’T use an INDIRECT object with SAY, but we ALWAYS use an indirect object with TELL:

Answer 5

…He said he was moving to New Zealand. (Not: He said me he was moving to New Zealand.)

…He told ME he was moving to New Zealand.(Not: He told he was moving to New Zealand.)

Question 6

+ We use say, but NOT tell, to REPORT QUESTIONS:

+ We use say, NOT tell, to REPORT GREETINGS, congratulations and other wishes:

Answer 6

…‘Are you going now?’ she said. (Not: ‘Are you going now?’ she told me)

…‘Happy birthday!’ she said. (Not: Happy birthday!’ she told me.)
…Everyone said good luck to me as I went into the interview. (Not: Everyone told me good luck )