Who told you?

They mean the same thing, but you cannot use them the same way!

July 24, 2014 05:16 pm | Updated 05:16 pm IST

We are often confused about when to use “said” (the past tense of “say”) and “told” (the past tense of “tell”), the simple reason being the similarity in their meanings.

Well, let’s get clear on this…

The meaning of “tell” is to speak or write something to someone; whereas “say” means to use your voice to express something in words.

You “tell” someone something but you “say” something.

Ram said that he was sick.

Ram told Ganesh that he was sick.

Remember…

You cannot “ say” someone to do something.

Tara said Janvi to go away - WRONG

Tara told Janvi to go away RIGHT

You cannot “say” someone something.

Pamela said me that she was sick WRONG

Pamela told me that she was sick RIGHT

You cannot “tell” something.

Saranya told that she loves pizzas WRONG

Saranya said that she loves pizzas RIGHT

You cannot “tell to” someone, something.

Tina told to me that she was coming WRONG

Tina told me that she was coming - RIGHT

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