He Told That vs. He Said That – Which is Correct?

Use “he said that” when reporting a statement without naming a listener. Use “he told” only with an object, as in “he told me that…” Therefore, “he said that” is normally correct, while “he told that” is usually incomplete or ungrammatical. “Told” requires the person whom he informed to be identified clearly.

He Told That or He Said That – Which is Correct?

“He said that” is correct when you report what someone said without mentioning the listener. For example, “He said that the meeting was canceled.”

“He told that” is usually incorrect or incomplete because tell normally requires an indirect object: the person who received the information. Say “He told me that the meeting was canceled,” not “He told that the meeting was canceled.”

The verbs said and told both report speech, but they follow different grammatical patterns. The usual structures are say + something and tell + someone + something.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Use the listener test: if you name the person who heard the information, use told. If you do not name a listener, use said.

Compare these sentences:

• He said that he was tired.
• He told me that he was tired.

A useful memory aid is: tell takes a target. The target is usually introduced by words such as me, you, her, us, or them.

How to Use “He Told That”

The verb told is the past tense and past participle of tell. It is used to report information given to a particular person. In standard English, tell generally needs an object showing who received the message. The normal pattern is subject + told + person + that-clause.

Although “he told that” may occasionally appear in nonstandard speech or in translations influenced by another language, it is not the natural construction in everyday American English. Add the listener after told or replace told with said.

Example 1: He told me that the store would close early.

Example 2: She told her manager that she needed more time.

Example 3: They told us that the train had already left.

What are the different forms of “tell”?

Tell is an irregular verb. Its main forms are tell in the present tense, told in both the simple past and past participle, and telling as the present participle or gerund.

• Present: He tells me the truth.
• Past: He told me the truth.
• Perfect: He has told me the truth.
• Continuous: He is telling me the truth.

Etymology of the word “tell”

Tell comes from Old English tellan, meaning “to count,” “recount,” or “relate.” Over time, it developed its modern meanings of giving information, narrating a story, instructing someone, and recognizing or distinguishing something.

How to Use “He Said That”

Said is the simple past and past participle of say. Use “he said that” to introduce reported speech, information, beliefs, or opinions. Unlike tell, say does not require a person receiving the message.

The common structure is subject + said + that-clause. The word that can often be omitted, especially in informal writing and conversation: “He said he was busy.” In formal writing, retaining that can make the sentence clearer.

Example 1: He said that the project was ready.

Example 2: He said that he would call after work.

Example 3: He said that the results were encouraging.

When you identify the listener, use said to rather than placing the listener directly after said: “He said to me that he was sorry.” However, “He told me that he was sorry” is usually more natural.

What are the different forms of “say”?

Say is an irregular verb. Its main forms are say in the present tense, says with he, she, or it, said in the simple past and past participle, and saying as the present participle or gerund.

• Present: I say what I mean.
• Third-person singular: He says the plan will work.
• Past: He said the plan would work.
• Perfect: He has said the same thing before.
• Continuous: He is saying that he needs help.

Etymology of the word “say”

Say comes from Old English secgan, meaning “to say,” “speak,” or “tell.” It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages and has retained its central connection with expressing words, thoughts, and opinions aloud or in writing.

Related Concepts

Understanding reported speech and verb patterns makes the difference between “he told that” and “he said that” much easier to remember.

• Reported speech: Reported speech explains what someone said without necessarily repeating the exact original words. For example, “He said that he was tired” reports his message indirectly.
• Direct objects and indirect objects: In “He told me the news,” me is the indirect object and the news is the direct object. The person receiving the information is important with tell.
• That-clauses: A that-clause can introduce the content of a statement, as in “She said that the plan had changed.” In many contexts, that may be omitted.
• Say versus tell: Say focuses on the words or message, whereas tell commonly focuses on giving information to a particular person.

Examples from Media and Literature

The following examples illustrate the normal patterns used in books, films, journalism, and everyday reporting. The wording may vary according to the source or adaptation.

• Literary narration: A narrator may write, “He said that he had never seen the place before,” because no listener is placed directly after said.
• Novel dialogue: A character may say, “She told me that the letter had arrived,” using told with the listener me.
• Film reporting: A synopsis might explain that a witness “said that the suspect left early,” using said that to report the witness’s statement.
• News writing: A report may state, “The spokesperson said that the company would release a statement,” because the content of the statement is emphasized.
• Personal storytelling: A speaker might say, “My teacher told us that the test would be postponed,” because us identifies the people who received the information.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1. He ______ that he would arrive before noon. (said / told)
2. He ______ me that he would arrive before noon. (said / told)
3. The manager ______ that the office was closed. (said / told)
4. The manager ______ the employees that the office was closed. (said / told)
5. She ______ her parents that she had passed the exam. (said / told)

Answer Key

1. said — No listener is named.
2. told — Me identifies the listener.
3. said — The sentence reports the manager’s statement without naming a listener.
4. told — The employees is the object receiving the information.
5. told — Her parents is the listener or recipient.

“He Told” Synonyms

“He Said That” Synonyms

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “he told that” grammatically correct?
“He told that” is usually not correct in standard English because tell generally needs an object identifying the listener. Use “He told me that…” or “He said that…” instead.

Question 2: Should I say “he said me” or “he told me”?
Use “he told me.” The verb tell can be followed directly by the listener, but say normally cannot. Say “He said to me…” if you want to use said with a listener.

Question 3: Can I omit “that” after “he said”?
Yes. Both “He said that he was busy” and “He said he was busy” are grammatical. Keeping that can improve clarity in formal or complex sentences.

Conclusion

Use “he said that” when reporting a statement without naming the listener. Use “he told someone that” when you identify the person who received the information. The key rule is simple: say reports words, while tell tells a person. Pro Tip: Using the correct verb pattern improves clarity and protects your professional reputation.