tell

To give someone information by speaking or writing.

• Tell me your name.
• She told us a funny story.
• Did he tell you what happened?

How to use it: tell someone something (Please tell me the answer.); tell someone that… (He told me that the shop was closed.); tell someone about something (She told us about her trip.)

Similar words: inform

Common phrases: tell someone something, tell the truth, tell a story

To say that someone must do something.

• Tell him to wait.
• My teacher told me to sit down.
• Who told you to open that door?

How to use it: tell someone to do something (She told us to leave.); tell someone not to do something (Dad told me not to touch the pan.)

Similar words: order, instruct, direct

Common phrases: tell someone to, tell someone not

To report someone’s bad behavior to a person who can punish them.

• Please do not tell!
• He told on his sister for breaking the window.
• If you cheat again, I will tell the teacher.

How to use it: tell on someone (He threatened to tell on us.)

Similar words: report, inform

Common phrases: tell on someone, tell the teacher

To work out a number, an amount, or the time.

• Can you tell the time?
• She learned to tell time on an old clock.
• All told, we collected two hundred pounds.

Similar words: determine, count

Common phrases: tell the time, tell time, all told

To state facts directly in a story instead of letting actions or descriptions make them clear.

• This paragraph tells the reader that Anna is lonely.
• The narrator tells us how the brothers feel.
• Try showing his anger instead of telling the reader about it.

Similar words: explain, state

Opposites: show

Common phrases: tell the reader, tell rather than show