Said Or Say?

ForumsGrammar & Sentence Structure
  •  1
  •  4,844
+0
When should we use say(says)/said?
If 'said' is used, must it be followed by simple past tense?
Something like:
My mom said this is correct / My mom says this is correct
He said he doesn't want to go to school tomorrow / He says he doesn't want to go to school tomorrow

Or in another case:
He said he didn't want to go to school tomorrow
Is this correct? It sounds weird.

She said this shop was going to open / She says this shop is going to open / She said this shop is going to open

Which sentence should I use?
If I mean she said this to me few days ago that this shop is gonna open soon.
+0
Charlena.When should we use say(says)/said?
The verb "to say" in the present simple

I say
You say
He/she/ it says
They say
We say

"said" is the past tense.
Charlena.My mom said this is correct / My mom says this is correct
He said he doesn't want to go to school tomorrow / He says he doesn't want to go to school tomorrow
When you are telling someone what someone else said, then it is correct to use "said". You will hear many people using "says" particularly if the speech was recent or immediate. For example if I am on the telephone to John and Mary is with me I might tell Mary what John is saying at that time. "He says he can't come out with us this evening".
Charlena.He said he didn't want to go to school tomorrow
Is this correct? It sounds weird.
Yes that is correct, even if it sounds weird to you.

In your last case - "She said that this shop was going to open". Is correct.

Some of these posts will help you with reported speech.
http://www.EnglishForward.com/search/Reported Speech.htm
1 2
Comments  
Site Hint: Check out our list of pronunciation videos.
So it means the sentences like 'My mom said this is correct' and 'He said he doesn't know about her' are correct?
Yes
Okay thanks a lot! Emotion: smile
Teachers: We supply a list of EFL job vacancies
My boyfriend corrected me on this text. I believe I'm right when I used "say" instead of "said" Am I correct?

I say hello all the time to you😀 hope you're having a great day

"Said" not "say"
book penI say hello all the time to you.

I say 'Hello' to you all the time. This describes a habit that you have now.

The past is:

I used to say 'Hello' to you all the time. This describes a habit that you had in the past.
_____________________

I don't know why you would say either of those to your boyfriend unless you were denying his claim to the contrary. I don't know how 'said' comes into it if you're writing 'all the time'.

CJ

"You hardly said Hello" was his text I responded to.
Students: Are you brave enough to let our tutors analyse your pronunciation?
book pen "You hardly said Hello" was his the text I responded to.

Then as I see it, you have two choices.

I always say 'Hello' to to you.
I said 'Hello'.

CJ

Show more

Answer this Question

Guides