YourGrammarTeacher: Do you 'tell' or 'say' the truth?

Habeeb Waliyu


Language is the system of communication which is used to exchange information. One of the characteristics of language is: 'language is not instinctive' which means language is not innate. It's meant to be learnt or taught.

Your Grammar Teacher, an initiative of OAU KILONSHELE, brings to you the correct forms of some errors in grammar.


'say the truth'

It's wrong to say : " I will like you to say the truth"

It's correct to use :'tell the truth'. E.g :
1.The man tells the truth.
2.it's better to tell the truth.
3.the man was so happy when she told me the truth.

it should be noted that you can also 'speak the truth' e.g
1. He always spoke the truth whether it was popular or not.
2. He speaks the truth always.
3. Although the truth is bitter but make sure you always speak the truth.


It's also wrong to 'say a lie' but it is grammatical to 'tell a lie '. E.g

1. He got into trouble for telling a lie.
2. He was jailed for telling a lie.
3. His father got angry because he told a lie.

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