Say and tell in reported speech

For a reported statement, first ask whether the sentence names the person who heard the message. Use said when that person is not named. Use told when you include the listener before the reported information.

Dara said that the courier had arrived.

The sentence reports Dara's message, but it does not say who heard it.

Dara told the receptionist that the courier had arrived.

The receptionist is the listener, so told is followed by the listener.

Which verb normally comes before a named listener in a reported statement?

Use told, as in Dara told the receptionist that the courier had arrived.

Say does not take the listener directly after it. When you need to name a listener with say, use to. This pattern is especially useful before direct speech.

Dara said to the receptionist, "The courier has arrived."

To introduces the person Dara spoke to.

Dara said the receptionist that the courier had arrived.

This is incorrect because the listener cannot come directly after said.

What word can come before a listener after say?

Use to, as in Dara said to the receptionist.

Use said before a direct quotation. The quotation gives the speaker's exact words. If you rebuild the message as reported speech, remove the quotation marks and use a reported clause.

The assistant said, "I will send the details this afternoon."

Said introduces the assistant's exact words.

The assistant said that she would send the details that afternoon.

This reports the same message from a later point of view.

Which verb normally introduces a direct quotation: said or told?

Use said before a direct quotation.

A reported instruction usually needs told, the listener, and to plus the main verb. Put not before to for a negative instruction. This pattern describes what someone asked or ordered another person to do.

The security officer told us to use the side entrance.

Us is the listener, and to use gives the action in the instruction.

The security officer told us not to block the entrance.

Not to block reports a negative instruction.

Where does not go in a negative reported instruction?

Put not before to: The officer told us not to block the entrance.

Some choices depend on the noun or phrase after the verb. Use tell with expressions such as tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, and tell a joke. Use say with expressions such as say hello, say goodbye, say thank you, and say sorry.

Leila told the truth about the missing receipt.

Tell the truth is a fixed expression, so say the truth is not the usual choice.

Leila said hello to the new neighbor.

Say hello is a common phrase. Learn it as a complete unit.

Which verb do you use with the truth?

Use tell: tell the truth.

Both say and tell can appear in reports, so do not choose by translation alone. Check the message type and the words that follow the verb. A listener points toward told; an exact quotation points toward said; an instruction needs told plus a listener plus to and a verb.

The coach told the players that practice started at six.

The coach gave information to the players, so the listener appears after told.

The coach said that practice started at six.

This is also correct when the listener does not need to be named.

What should you check before choosing say or tell?

Check whether you name a listener, quote exact words, report an instruction, or use a fixed expression.