a) Say and tell with reported statements.
Look at the sentences:
Paul: You've got mail
Paul said I've got mail.
Paul told me that I've got mail.
These sentences mean the same, but the uses of the verbs tell and say are different.
Say means ‘speak the words’. It has no object.
Tell usually means ‘inform a person’ and with this meaning always has a personal object (eg. me)
Tell can also have other meanings like in tell the truth, a story (relate); I can tell a twin from another (distinguish); tell the time (read the time from a clock or watch)
b) Say and tell with reported commands.
Mom: Don’t do that again.
Mom said that I shouldn’t do it again.
Mom told me not to do it again.
Note that a reported command with say is followed by that and the auxiliary should (not). The reported command with tell takes an infinitive.
c) Say and tell: passive
Note the passive forms:
People say The Death Hallows is a good film.
The Death Hallows is said to be a good film.
People have told me that The Death Hallows is a good film.
I’ve been told that The Death Hallows is a good film.
