Told and Said

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Can I know when I use told or said ?

He told :?:

He said:?:
Welcome.
"He told me that he lived in Manchester". Not "He said me..."
"He said that he lived in Manchester". Not "He told that...".
Does that help you to understand?
 
Welcome.
"He told me that he lived in Manchester". Not "He said me..."
"He said that he lived in Manchester". Not "He told that...".
Does that help you to understand?




Yes, I understood. but could you please explain how many differences ? or How can avoid confused when I used them?
 
You tell someone and say something.
 
Last edited:
now,It is clear to me

thanks alot :lol:
 
You can tell a story to someone....
 
You can tell the time.
You can say someone beat you up.
You can say the president is a moron.
You can tell a New Zealander (but you can't tell him much).
You can tell Mary to say John is on the phone.
 
You can tell a story to someone....

You can but you would still say "He told me a story", which fits with the previous explanation of you "tell someone....."
 
something about "say", "speak", "talk" and "tell"
These words of oral amd written English are all verbs; talk and say are also nouns. The verbs mainly differ in their grammar.
Talk and speak are very similar; speak is more formal and less commonly used.
I want to (talk)(speak) to/with you after work today.
When my father was unhappy with me, he always (talked)(spoke) to me very formally.
What did the guests talk about? (here speak is too formal)
How long did the president (talk)(speak)?
Don't (talk)(speak) for more than 20 minutes.

Talk and speak are often followed by words like to, with, about and for. We also say things like '(talk)( speak) slowly and clearly.'
You can say 'speak English'. We don't say 'talk English' unless one means talk about English.

You can not say '(Say)(Tell) English', but you can say 'Say (it)(something) in English.' and 'Tell me something in English.'

Say is very commonly used.
What did he say? I didn't understand what he said. Say that again. Say it more slowly. I almost always agree with what he says. The weather man says it will be much colder tomorrow.

Say and tell are more commonly used for written things than talk and speak are. What did John say in his letter? The second chapter of the book will tell us about Napoleon's childhood.

Tell is almost aways immediately followed by a noun or pronoun that serves as a direct or indirect object.
Tell us more about yourself.
Tell (me)(Kate)(the class) what you did on Christmas Day.
I told the police what I saw.
I told my story to anyone who would listen.

When you (speak)(talk) to the students, what will you (say)(say to them)(tell them)?
Last edited by 2006; 18-May-2009 at 07:58. Reason: some minor improvements
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