Confusing Verbs Dictation: Say and Tell

Listen to what comes straight after say or tell. Tell often has a person there, such as him or them. Say can go straight to the words or message; if it names the listener, you may hear to before that person. Tell also has phrases such as tell a joke, so the person rule is not for every use. Catch said or told carefully in past sentences. Keep the message and all the small words too, rather than writing only the speaking verb.