Common Mistakes: Say vs. Tell

Confusing verbs

‘.He told, ‘I will/’ll go home
.He told that he’d go home

‘.He said, ‘I will/’ll go home
.He said that he’d go home

Use “to say” (1) when referring to a person’s actual words, and (2) in indirect speech if the sentence does not contain an indirect object

!Say a prayer. Who says? I must say! You can say that again! If you say so

Tell the truth. Tell a lie. Tell a story. Tell the time. Tell your fortune. Tell someone your name