1. Unit 11 Grammar Notes
Page 178, Part 2

2. 2
Explanation Example(s)
The verbs say and
tell are the most
common reporting
verbs. We usually
use the simple past
form of these verbs
in both direct and
indirect speech.
Hal said, “Marta, we
have to leave.”
Hal told Marta (that)
they had to leave.

3. BE CAREFUL! Say and tell
have similar meanings, but
they are used differently.
We say something, but we
tell someone something (or
tell something to someone.)

4. SAY vs. TELL
CORRECT **INCORRECT
Andy told Freda (that)
she shouldn’t worry.
**Andy said Freda
(that) she shouldn’t
worry.
Freda said that she
would try to relax.
**Freda told that she
would try to relax.

5. SAY vs. TELL:
USAGE NOTE
EXPLANATION EXAMPLE(S)
When the listener is
mentioned, it is
preferable to use tell.
The chair told us to pay
attention.
The chair said to pay
attention.

6. SAY vs. TELL
USAGE NOTE, cont.
CORRECT **INCORRECT
The chair told us to pay
attention.
**The chair said us to
pay attention.
The chair said to pay
attention.
**The chair told to pay
attention.

7. BE CAREFUL!
Don’t use tell when the
listener is not
mentioned.

8. SAY vs. TELL
CORRECT **INCORRECT
Ms. Sasser said (that)
she was going to sit in
on the meeting.
**Ms. Sasser told (that)
she was going to sit in
on the meeting.
Ms. Sasser told us that
she was going to sit in
on the meeting.
**Ms. Sasser said us
that she was going to
sit in on the meeting.