tell a story

Meaning

This expression means to relate a sequence of events, either real or imaginary, to an audience. It is often used when parents read to children, or when friends share interesting personal experiences. The tone is warm and engaging.

Examples

• My grandfather loves to tell a story about his time in the navy.

  My grandfather loves to tell a story about his time in the navy.

• Every night, she would tell a story to her kids before they went to sleep.

  Every night, she would tell a story to her kids before they went to sleep.

• He knows how to tell a story that keeps everyone laughing.

  He knows how to tell a story that keeps everyone laughing.

• Can you tell a story about your first day at your current job?

  Can you tell a story about your first day at your current job?

• It is hard to tell a story well when you are feeling nervous.

  It is hard to tell a story well when you are feeling nervous.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She likes to speak a story to her children.

  ✓ She likes to tell a story to her children.

  In English, we use the verb 'tell' with 'story', not 'speak' or 'say'.

• ✗ He told to me a story.

  ✓ He told me a story.

  When 'tell' is followed directly by the person receiving the information, we do not use the preposition 'to' before the pronoun.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before bed, I always ___ to my daughter.

  💡 Relate a narrative or tale.

  Show answer

  tell a story

• He is great at making people laugh when he decides to ___.

  💡 Share an amusing or interesting sequence of events.

  Show answer

  tell a story