Use say plus that plus a sentence to report a statement without a person object, as in she said that she was happy, and use tell plus a person plus that plus a sentence, as in he told me that he was busy. Say never takes a person object directly, while tell always needs one.
Grammar Rule
Reported speech tells what someone said, without using their exact words. Say never takes a person object directly after it, while tell always needs one.
Reported Speech (Basic): Rules and Examples
| Verb | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| say | say + that + sentence | She said that she was happy. They said that they liked pizza. He said that he needed help. |
| tell | tell + person + that + sentence | He told me that he was busy. She told us that she was leaving. |
Remember: say never takes a person object; tell always needs one.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below choosing correctly between say and tell. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Reported Speech – Basic (Say/Tell + That Clause)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the structure with say in reported speech?
Use say plus that plus the reported sentence, as in she said that she was happy, without a person object directly after say.
What is the structure with tell in reported speech?
Use tell plus a person plus that plus the reported sentence, as in he told me that he was busy; tell always needs a person object.
Can you use tell without a person object?
No, tell always requires a person object right after it, unlike say, which never takes one directly.
Does reported speech use the exact original words?
No, reported speech reports what someone said without quoting their exact words, often changing pronouns and tenses.