Hey there! This is TOP episode 340. TELL. Useful Phrases (part 2)
You read English. You understand English. You’ve been learning for years, but when it’s time to speak your mind just freezes, and the words don’t come out. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. My name’s Ola, and this is Teacher Ola Podcast. I’m here to help you finally speak out loud. This isn’t about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary. This is about your voice. Your words. Your real English.
In this episode, we’re taking one of the most common, everyday language tools in English and looking at how it really behaves in natural conversation not as a rule to memorise, but as something you hear, feel, and instinctively start to use. The word we’re focusing on today is TELL, and this is part two, so if you want to learn more, go to episode 336 and listen to part 1. It’s episode 336.
*And this episode is also a great occasion to invite to another live class with me: “Have a Ball with Present Perfect”. It’s not about studying grammar in the traditional sense. It’s about using English in motion. You don’t sit and analyse it, you step into it, try it out, play with it, and let it become automatic. Think of it less like learning a grammatical tense… and more like learning a rhythm you can actually move with. I want you to use the present perfect with perfect confidence, with pleasure and satisfaction. I know it’s 100% possible and available to you/ So I decided to put together a bunch of uses of present perfect and teach you how to feel it. How to open your mouth and use the present perfect in adequate moments. Without giving it a thought. Ok? Let’s do it, let’s have a ball with present perfect tense! Join me at the link in the description or simply go to teacherola.com/bal. Now, let’s jump into TELL. Here we go.
**We often use “tell” when we give instructions or information with question words.
tell somebody what to do, tell where to go, tell how to do something.
For example:
She told me what to do.
Can you tell me where to go?
Now here’s something interesting. It’s not only people who can “tell.” Objects, messages, even behavior can “tell” us something. In other words, they give us information.
For example:
The advert doesn’t tell the price.
This message tells me not to close the window.
Your behavior tells me that you’re tired.
**Now let’s move to another meaning.
For example:
He told us a funny story.
She told a joke at the meeting.
And two very important ones:
Please tell me the truth.
He told a lie to avoid trouble.
Sometimes words are not enough, and we use “tell” to show that.
For example:
I can’t tell you how happy I am.
It means your emotions are so strong that it’s hard to describe them.
**Now let’s talk about secrets.
When you share something private, you often say:
I’ll tell you a secret, but promise you won’t tell anyone.
Or simply:
Promise you won’t tell.
**Now another very common use: giving orders or advice.
For example:
I told you to be here on time.
The doctor told me to rest more.
And sometimes we push back when we don’t want advice:
Don’t tell me what to do.
Or even stronger:
Do what I tell you.
*Now, “tell” can also mean to judge or to be sure about something, especially when it’s not obvious.
For example:
It’s hard to tell.
I’m not sure, it’s hard to tell.
Or when you give your opinion carefully:
As far as I can tell, she’s enjoying the course.
You can also ask:
How can you tell?
And we often use it when we read people’s emotions:
I could tell that he was angry from his expression.
Or when we talk about the future or uncertainty:
It’s too early to tell how popular this will be.
It’s impossible to tell exactly where the problem is.
And finally, one more meaning that’s extremely useful — “tell” as in to see the difference between things.
For example:
It was hard to tell the difference between the two versions.
Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?
It’s difficult to tell them apart.
Time to practice. Listen and repeat out loud:
She told me what to do.
The advert doesn’t tell the price.
He told us a funny story.
Please tell me the truth.
I can’t tell you how happy I am.
I’ll tell you a secret, but promise you won’t tell anyone.
The doctor told me to rest more.
It’s hard to tell.
It’s impossible to tell exactly where the problem is.
Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?
**Well done!! Thank you for your work and now don’t forget to head to teacherola.com/340 and grab your free worksheet that goes with this episode.
Come and have a ball with Present Perfect and with me.
Seriously. Not a boring grammar lesson. Not lists of irregular verbs. Not another explanation you’ll forget five minutes later.
This is about learning to feel Present Perfect in real communication. To hear it, react to it, use it naturally.
We’re going to play with the language, move with it, speak with it, and make it automatic, almost like learning a dance step instead of memorising rules.
Because English, especially tenses like Present Perfect, is not something you learn once and then move on from. It’s something you slowly begin to feel through real use. You stop translating in your head and start reacting naturally. And that shift rarely comes from explanations. It comes from speaking. But first you need to feel you make good solid sentences. Let’s meet on the 7 June at 8:30 pm and let’s have a ball with present perfect. Join me for free at teacherola.com/bal.
Thank you so much for listening. Stay fearless, take care, and say it out loud. I love you, I believe in you, and I know you are ready to speak English. I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to Teacher Ola Podcast.
Bye for now.