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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Will that always be the case? Tell versus say

Hi teachers,
We use the verb 'tell' for:
1. information
2. instructions
3. orders

We use the verb 'say' to repeat exactly what somebody said.
________________________________

Peter: You go and find him.
Kate: Sure.

According to the above conversation, the following sentences will be correct, won't they?
a) What did he tell her to do? She told her to go and find him.
b) What did he say? He said, 'You go and find him.'

Are there other possibilities with those verbs to report something?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

According to the above conversation, the following sentences would be correct, wouldn't they? a) What did he tell her to do? He told her to go and find him.

— Shawn79

  • According to the above conversation, the following sentences would be correct, wouldn't they?
  • a) What did he tell her to do?
  • He told her to go and find him.
  • b) What did he say?
  • ' Yes, both sentences are possible.
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6 Answers
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According to the above conversation, the following sentences would be correct, wouldn't they?
a) What did he tell her to do? He told her to go and find him.
b) What did he say? He said, 'You go and find him.'

Yes, both sentences are possible.
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Thinking SpainAre there other possibilities with those verbs to report something?
He said that she should go and find him.
He told her that she should go and find him.
"Go and find him", he told her.
He said, "Go and find him".
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Shawn79Yes, both sentences are possible.
Hi Shawn,
Thank you for your reply.

TS
Shawn79According to the above conversation, the following sentences would be correct, wouldn't they?
Thank you for your correction too.
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fivejedjonHe said that she should go and find him.He told her that she should go and find him."Go and find him", he told her.He said, "Go and find him".
Hi fivejedjon,
Thank you for your reply and examples.

What would the difference be between them? Is it obligation for 'a' and recomendation for 'b'?
a) What did he tell her to do? He told her
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Thinking SpainWhat would the difference be between them? Is it obligation for 'a' and recommendation for 'b'?
Yes, that's correct. They are different definitions of "tell":

tell (verb)
1. to let know or notify
2. to order or instruct (someone to do something)
...

"He told her to..." - definition 2
"He told her that
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Shawn79Yes, that's correct. They are different definitions of "tell":
Hi Shawn,
Thank you so much for your reply. For once I was right.
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