ESL WORKSHEET - The verbs say and tell

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

SAY AND TELL

LinguaHouse

Sep. 28, 2025

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Confusing Words; Idioms; Speaking; Vocabulary Lesson; 10-12 Years Old; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 09/28/2025

In this updated lesson, students compare the use of the verbs say and tell. First, they engage with the language by looking at some visual examples. They then listen to a conversation featuring the language before discovering and practicing the differences between the two verbs. The students also notice and use expressions using say and tell in various tasks. There is a final activity which focuses on related idioms. (by Victoria Aitken)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Amy: Have you spoken to Sara? I haven’t seen her for ages.
Diana: Yes, I saw her at the gym last week.
Amy: How is she?
Diana: Not great, she said that she had split up with Jack.
Amy: Really? Why?
Diana: Well, he told her he had cheated on her.
Amy: What? With who?
Diana: He wouldn’t tell her. He told her it wasn’t important. He said that it was a mistake and that he loved her.
Amy: What did she say?
Diana: She told him to pack his bags and leave.
Amy: I would tell him the same.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/say-and-tell. Accessed on September 30, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.