What is the past tense of "tell"?

The past simple of "tell" is "told". Tell me your name.

What is a common mistake with "tell"?

Wrong: "Tell me where is the station.". Correct: "Tell me where the station is.". Question word moves; word order fixes.

How do you pronounce "tell"?

/tɛl/ — One syllable, short 'e' sound like in 'bed'.

ESLBUZZ - Education for Students of Language

Q: What is the past participle of "tell"?

The past participle of "tell" is "told". Use it after have/has/had: "I have told".

Q: Is "tell" regular or irregular?

"Tell" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: TELL-TOLD-TOLD.

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All 12 Tenses of "Tell"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "tell" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I tell`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I told`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will tell`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am telling`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was telling`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be telling`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have told`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had told`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have told`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been telling`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been telling`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been telling`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Tell" — Told

The past simple of "tell" is "told". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "tell" is irregular, "told" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

He told her a secret yesterday. A2

Past Participle of "Tell" — Told

The past participle of "tell" is "told". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have told"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was told"). Because "tell" is irregular, "told" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

He told her a secret yesterday. A2

Is "Tell" Regular or Irregular?

"Tell" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "tell", past simple "told", and past participle "told". The 3rd-person singular present is "tells" and the present participle/gerund is "telling". Conjugation pattern: TELL-TOLD-TOLD.

Conjugation pattern: TELL-TOLD-TOLD

How to Pronounce "Tell" and Its Forms

Tell: /tɛl/ — Stress pattern: O

One syllable, short 'e' sound like in 'bed'.

How to Use "Tell" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'tell someone' to name the listener.

S + tell + O + that-clause

Example Sentences with "Tell" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: He told her a secret yesterday. A2

Common Collocations with "Tell"

tell the truth — Please tell the truth about what happened.
tell a story — Grandma tells stories about the old days.
tell someone the truth — I need to tell you the truth.
tell jokes — He tells jokes to make people laugh.
tell a lie — Don't tell a lie; be honest.

When to Use "Tell" vs Similar Verbs

"tell" vs "say"

Tell needs an object (person); say can stand alone.

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

say — simple speaking without direct object
inform — officially making someone aware
report — relay facts or findings formally

Antonyms: hide, conceal

Common Mistakes with "Tell"

Wrong: She tell me the answer.
Correct: She tells me the answer.
Add "s" for third-person singular.
Wrong: I told him about the problem.
Correct: I told him about the problem.
This is correct! "Tell" requires an indirect object (tell someone).
Wrong: They telling the story.
Correct: They are telling the story. / They told the story.
Use continuous or past tense; "they telling" is incomplete.

Origin and Etymology of "Tell"

From Old English tellan, related to counting.

Conjugation Tables for "Tell"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not tell · He does not tell
Simple past: I did not tell · She did not tell
Present perfect: I have not told · He has not told

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you tell? · Does he tell?
Simple past: Did you tell?
Present perfect: Have you told?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is told
Simple past passive: It was told
Present perfect passive: It has been told

Frequently Asked Questions About "Tell"

Is "tell" regular or irregular?: "tell" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "told" and past participle is "told". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "tell"?: The simple past of "tell" is "told".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "tell"?: Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "told".
What's a common mistake with "tell"?: Add "s" for third-person singular. Wrong: "She tell me the answer." Correct: "She tells me the answer."

Conjugation of "Tell" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage