1. I ____ him to be here at five o’clock.
Say or tell?
I ____ him to be here at five o’clock. 1

2. I told him to be here at five o’clock.
Say or tell?
I told him to be here at five o’clock.
Tell must almost always take a person as the direct object. There are some exceptions.
Say NEVER takes a person as a direct object. 2

3. She ____ me that she was from Germany.
Say or tell?
She ____ me that she was from Germany. 3

4. She told me that she was from Germany.
Say or tell?
She told me that she was from Germany. 4

5. She ___ she was from Germany.
Say or tell?
She ___ she was from Germany. 5

6. She said she was from Germany.
Say or tell?
She said she was from Germany. 6

7. Say or tell?
Frank ___, “hello”. 7

8. Frank said, “hello”. Say or tell? Say is used for any type of speech.
Tell is used to give orders, instructions or information.
Frank told me, “hello”. IS NOT POSSIBLE 8

9. Can you ___ me where the nearest subway station is?
Say or tell?
Can you ___ me where the nearest subway station is? 9

10. Can you tell me where the nearest subway station is?
Say or tell?
Can you tell me where the nearest subway station is? 10

11. He ____ he was sick but I don’t believe him.
Say or tell?
He ____ he was sick but I don’t believe him. 11

12. He said he was sick but I don’t believe him.
Say or tell?
He said he was sick but I don’t believe him. 12

13. He didn’t ___ goodbye to me before he left.
Say or tell?
He didn’t ___ goodbye to me before he left. 13

14. He didn’t say goodbye to me before he left.
Say or tell?
He didn’t say goodbye to me before he left. 14

15. You didn’t ___ John that we were going out on Friday, did you?
Say or tell?
You didn’t ___ John that we were going out on Friday, did you? 15

16. You didn’t tell John that we were going out on Friday, did you?
Say or tell?
You didn’t tell John that we were going out on Friday, did you? 16

17. I didn’t ___ anything to John.
Say or tell?
I didn’t ___ anything to John. 17

18. I didn’t say anything to John.
Say or tell?
I didn’t say anything to John. 18

19. Did anyone ___ if we had to work this Saturday?
Say or tell?
Did anyone ___ if we had to work this Saturday? 19

20. Did anyone say if we had to work this Saturday?
Say or tell?
Did anyone say if we had to work this Saturday? 20

21. Why did you ___ the boss that I would work this Saturday?
Say or tell?
Why did you ___ the boss that I would work this Saturday? 21

22. Why did you tell the boss that I would work this Saturday?
Say or tell?
Why did you tell the boss that I would work this Saturday? 22

23. Nobody ever ____ anything to me.
Say or tell?
Nobody ever ____ anything to me. 23

24. Nobody ever says anything to me.
Say or tell?
Nobody ever says anything to me. 24

25. The boss ___ us that he was selling the company.
Say or tell?
The boss ___ us that he was selling the company. 25

26. The boss told us that he was selling the company.
Say or tell?
The boss told us that he was selling the company. 26

27. He ___ me to take a right on 5th Street and then a left on Avenue A.
Say or tell?
He ___ me to take a right on 5th Street and then a left on Avenue A. 27

28. He told me to take a right on 5th Street and then a left on Avenue A.
Say or tell?
He told me to take a right on 5th Street and then a left on Avenue A. 28

29. They ____ that George Washington never ____ a lie.
Say or tell?
They ____ that George Washington never ____ a lie. 29

30. They say that George Washington never told a lie.
Say or tell?
They say that George Washington never told a lie.
“tell a lie” is a fixed expression. No person is necessary as a direct object. This is an exception to the rule. 30

31. My mother ___ me to always ___ the truth.
Say or tell?
My mother ___ me to always ___ the truth. 31

32. My mother told me to always tell the truth.
Say or tell?
My mother told me to always tell the truth.
“tell the truth” is a fixed expression. No person is necessary as a direct object. This is an exception to the rule. 32

33. Jack ___ a good joke this morning.
Say or tell?
Jack ___ a good joke this morning. 33

34. Jack told a good joke this morning.
Say or tell?
Jack told a good joke this morning.
“tell a joke” is a fixed expression. No person is necessary as a direct object. This is an exception to the rule. 34