What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
narrate
Example
The book is narrated by the main character, who tells the story from his perspective. [narrated: past tense]
Example
The documentary was narrated by a famous actor, who provided insightful commentary throughout. [narrated: past participle]
tell
Example
Can you tell me what happened at the meeting? [tell: verb]
Example
I told him to clean his room before he could go outside. [told: past tense]
Example
She told me that she didn't like the movie, but I enjoyed it. [told: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tell is more commonly used than narrate in everyday language. Tell is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while narrate is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as literature or film.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between narrate and tell?
Narrate is generally considered more formal than tell, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, both words can be adjusted to fit the level of formality required for a particular situation.
