Why "told me" and not, "said to me"?

Question

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

1) Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."

Why "told me" and not, "said to me"? I was taught "say" to attach to quote, and "tell" in another situation.

2) He didn't say any more but we've always been unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that.

Why "say" and not "tell"?

More examples: How do you get to West Egg village? he asked helplessly. I told him. — b2ok, Aug 17 '19 at 17:36
"I've got a nice place here," he said, his eyes flashing about restlessly. — b2ok, Aug 17 '19 at 18:32

Michael Login · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-17T18:00:40.847

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Generally, you say something (to somebody), but you tell somebody something. That's just the way English is.

edited Aug 17 '19 at 18:00

answered Aug 17 '19 at 17:39

Michael Login

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 17 '19 at 18:46

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"Say focuses on the words someone said and tell focuses more on the content or message of what someone said:" = https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/say-or-tell

answered Aug 17 '19 at 18:46

b2ok

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Why "told me" and not, "said to me"?

2 Answers2