The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

SAY, TELL and ASK

SAY SOMETHING

The direct object of say can be a noun, a that-clause (that can be omitted in informal styles) or an indirect question (in negatives and questions when the information is not actually reported):

Laura never

says anything

when asked.

Can you

say your name

again?

David

says he's exhausted

.

They

said that they would wait for me

.

She

didn't say what time she would be back

.

SAY SOMETHING TO SOMEONE

When we use to + indirect object after say, we do not normally use a that-clause:

He

didn't say anything to me

about the job.

"See you soon," Linda said to him

.

TELL SOMEONE SOMETHING

Tell is usually followed by an indirect object and a direct object:

Has

he

told you the news

?

Could

you

tell me your name

, please?

They

told me that they would wait for me

.

She

didn't tell me what time she would be back

.

Phrases with TELL

In some of the phrases below, an indirect object is optional:

My father

told (us) a

very interesting

story

.

You must always

tell (me) the truth

.

John

told (you) a lie

.

No one

can tell the future

.

Can

you

tell the time

in English?

ASK (SOMEONE) + indirect question

We can use ask to report questions:

Rebecca

asked (me) where I lived

.

The guide

asked (us) if we had visited the museum before

.

ASK/TELL SOMEONE + TO-infinitive

We can use ask or tell to report imperatives or requests:

Johnny's mother

told him to put away

his toys.

The examiner

asked me to speak

louder.

Quotes:

Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. - Plato

Related topics:

Reporting statements

Reporting questions

Reporting imperatives