Tell past tense

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Meaning of tell

to communicate information, facts, or news to someone in spoken or written words.

Infinitive

Word: tell /tɛl/
Examples:
  • 1. She tells the best stories.
  • 2. He always tells the truth, no matter how hard it might be.
  • 3. They tell jokes to keep everyone entertained during the trip.

Past Simple

Word: told /toʊld/
Examples:
  • 1. She told us a fascinating story about her travels in South America.
  • 2. He told me the truth after hiding it for so long.
  • 3. They told their parents they would be home by midnight.

Past Participle

Word: told /toʊld/
Examples:
  • 1. The story was told with such enthusiasm that everyone listened intently.
  • 2. She has told me about her travels many times, yet it never gets boring.
  • 3. The secrets were finally told at the family reunion, surprising everyone.

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Bare infinitive

  1. General truths or facts. When the action is a fact or a general truth that always stands correct.
    Example. Birds tell us a lot about our environment.
    Example. I tell my kids a story every night before bed.
    Example. The teacher tells us about the Civil War every Monday.
  2. Habitual actions. For actions that happen regularly, habits, or routines.
    Example. Birds tell us a lot about our environment.
    Example. I tell my kids a story every night before bed.
    Example. The teacher tells us about the Civil War every Monday.
  3. Fixed arrangements. For events on a schedule or timetable.
    Example. Birds tell us a lot about our environment.
    Example. I tell my kids a story every night before bed.
    Example. The teacher tells us about the Civil War every Monday.

Past Simple

  1. Completed actions in the past. For actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
    Example. She told me her secret last night.
    Example. When we were kids, we told each other everything.
    Example. I woke up, told my dog good morning, and made breakfast yesterday.
  2. Past habits. For actions that were habits in the past but not anymore.
    Example. She told me her secret last night.
    Example. When we were kids, we told each other everything.
    Example. I woke up, told my dog good morning, and made breakfast yesterday.
  3. Sequential actions in the past. To describe a series of past actions in the order they happened.
    Example. She told me her secret last night.
    Example. When we were kids, we told each other everything.
    Example. I woke up, told my dog good morning, and made breakfast yesterday.

Past Participle

  1. Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
    Example. I have told him about the changes already.
    Example. She had already told me the story before you mentioned it.
    Example. By next week, I will have told them about the decision.
    Example. The decision was told to us by the manager.
    Example. If you had told me, I could have helped.
  2. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action in the past.
    Example. I have told him about the changes already.
    Example. She had already told me the story before you mentioned it.
    Example. By next week, I will have told them about the decision.
    Example. The decision was told to us by the manager.
    Example. If you had told me, I could have helped.
  3. Future Perfect. For actions that will be completed before a specified future time.
    Example. I have told him about the changes already.
    Example. She had already told me the story before you mentioned it.
    Example. By next week, I will have told them about the decision.
    Example. The decision was told to us by the manager.
    Example. If you had told me, I could have helped.
  4. Passive voice. To form passive voice sentences where the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than who performs the action.
    Example. I have told him about the changes already.
    Example. She had already told me the story before you mentioned it.
    Example. By next week, I will have told them about the decision.
    Example. The decision was told to us by the manager.
    Example. If you had told me, I could have helped.
  5. Conditional sentences. Often used in the third conditional to talk about hypothetical situations in the past.
    Example. I have told him about the changes already.
    Example. She had already told me the story before you mentioned it.
    Example. By next week, I will have told them about the decision.
    Example. The decision was told to us by the manager.
    Example. If you had told me, I could have helped.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

A common mistake is confusing the past simple form 'told' with the past participle form 'told'. While it may seem less of an issue with 'tell' since both forms are the same, the error becomes apparent when these forms are used incorrectly in perfect tenses or passive voice. For instance, saying 'I have tell him the news' instead of the correct 'I have told him the news' misuses the base form instead of the past participle.

— 02

Incorrectly Creating Past Forms

Another mistake is attempting to add typical past tense endings to 'tell' incorrectly, such as 'telled' instead of using the correct irregular form 'told'. English learners might apply the regular verb rule of adding -ed to make past forms, not realizing that 'tell' is an irregular verb. The correct past simple and past participle form is 'told', which doesn't follow the regular -ed ending pattern. Remembering irregular verbs and their correct forms is essential for proper grammar usage.

— 03

Misusing 'Told' in Context

A subtler mistake involves using 'told' without an indirect object when one is necessary. For example, saying 'I told the story' is correct, but if you mean to convey whom you told the story to, you must include an indirect object. 'I told him/her/them the story.' Forgetting to mention to whom the action was done can lead to confusion and incomplete information. This mistake doesn't involve the form of the verb itself but rather its proper usage in context.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'tell'?

The past simple form of 'tell' is 'told.' This form is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, I told my friend about the new movie.'

How is the past participle form of 'tell' used?

The past participle form of 'tell' is also 'told.' It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For example, in the perfect tense, you might say, 'I have told him the news already.' In a passive voice construction, you might say, 'The story was told by an elder.'

Can you give an example of 'tell' in a sentence using both the past simple and past participle?

Yes, of course. Here's an example that uses both forms in one narrative. 'Last year, I told my sister an important secret. It has never been told to anyone else before or since.' Is there a difference in meaning when using 'told' in the past simple versus the past participle