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Level: B1

Say vs Tell — Practice

One rule decides almost every sentence: tell needs a person right after it (told me, told us); say does not (said that..., said nothing). Fill in 30 sentences with said or told.

📝 Reported Speech unit · lesson 2 of 3 ⏱ about 8 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on Reported Speech — the guide Next in unit The Backshift →

  • Told — a person comes right after
  • She ______ me the truth. – told
  • He ______ us a funny story. – told
  • The doctor ______ her to rest. – told
  • They ______ their parents about the trip. – told
  • I ______ him my name. – told
  • The teacher ______ the class to open their books. – told
  • She ______ the police everything. – told
  • Grandpa ______ us stories every night. – told
  • He ______ me that he was tired. – told
  • Nobody ______ her that the meeting was canceled. – told
  • I ______ you so! – told
  • The guide ______ the tourists to stay together. – told
  • She ______ her boss the news. – told
  • We ______ them the way to the station. – told
  • He ______ himself to stay calm. – told
  • Said — no person right after
  • She ______ that she was tired. – said
  • He ______ nothing during the meeting. – said
  • They ______ goodbye and left. – said
  • I ______ my name slowly and clearly. – said
  • She ______ something about the weather. – said
  • He ______ that the store was closed. – said
  • She ______ good morning with a smile. – said
  • Nobody ______ a word. – said
  • He ______ to me that he was sorry. – said
  • They ______ that the movie was great. – said
  • She ______ it twice, but I still did not understand. – said
  • The sign ______ that the pool was closed. – said
  • He ______ yes right away. – said
  • She ______ so herself. – said
  • He ______ that we should wait. – said