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to tell
01
to use words and give someone information
Transitive: to tell sb about sth
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
Action verb
Irregular
Present tense
tell
3rd person singular
tells
Present participle
telling
Past simple
told
Past participle
told
Examples
Did he tell you about the new project?
1.1
to make confidential information or a secret known
Intransitive
Examples
' How did you do on the exam? ' ' I 'm not telling. You'll have to wait for the results.'
1.2
to use words in order to express or narrate something
Transitive: to tell sth
Ditransitive: to tell sb sth
Examples
Can you tell me if what he said is true or not?
1.3
to instruct or recommend someone to do a particular thing
Ditransitive: to tell sb to do sth
Examples
He was told to turn off his phone during the movie.
1.4
to provide information or facts about something in non-verbal ways
Ditransitive: to tell sb a piece of information | to tell sb that
Examples
His facial expression told me that he was upset.
02
to realize or determine with confidence
Transitive: to tell that
Intransitive
Examples
' He 's definitely not from around here. ' ' How can you tell?'
2.1
to be able to differentiate a person or thing from another
Transitive: to tell the difference between two things | to tell that
Examples
Can you tell which song is the original and which is the cover?
03
to have an effect that is noticeable, particularly a harmful one
Intransitive
Examples
He 's been neglecting his health lately and it 's starting to tell.
