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tells her vs tells at her

The correct phrase is "tells her." The preposition "at" is not used after the verb "tells" when indicating communication towards someone. It is more common to simply use the direct object pronoun "her" after the verb.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 595 views

tells her

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is communicating information or a message to another person.

Examples:

  • He tells her about his day.
  • She tells her sister the news.
  • Partner tells her, "Kima's in court" or whatever.
  • Then he tells her his name, and one of us recognized it from the papers...
  • She'll do whatever tess tells her to.
  • She tells her Mother she's going to the movie, alone, on a Friday night.
  • She tells her sister, the cops start looking at us?
  • The P.A. tells her where J-me's headed, and she sends Crazy Diego to beat him to death.
  • Unsub gets into the car, gun drawn, and tells her to drive.
  • Asks a bribe for something he never intends to do. Takes my 150 then tells her not to sell.
  • Then he tells her he's got a gun.
  • Polly tells her she has earned her doss money three times over and drunk it all away.
  • But he tells her that she reminds him of someone.
  • Then he lays her down on his bed and tells her not to move.
  • "Take us to him," he tells her.
  • If that's true, and he tells her about your relationship...
  • Who swoops in and tells her to relax?
  • He goes to his mama's room and tells her everything.
  • Your grandfather can do no wrong in her eyes because he always tells her exactly what she wants to hear.
  • He tells her all the time how much he loves them.
  • I mean, a little eight-year-old girl... she just does whatever the adult tells her to do.
  • He tells her everything... unke you.

Alternatives:

  • informs her
  • says to her
  • communicates with her
  • shares with her
  • conveys to her

tells at her

This phrase is incorrect in English. The preposition "at" is not used after the verb "tells" when indicating communication towards someone.

  • Because you should tell her at least where you are tonight.
  • I wonder if we should even tell her at all.
  • She doesn't know about my condition yet so I'll tell her at the right time.
  • You have to at least tell her mother's name.
  • Christ, Lauren, at least tell me her name.
  • Major, why don't we let the lieutenant tell her story at her own pace?
  • If you have to tell her, at least wait till the timing's right.
  • I think you can tell just by looking at her, but you might want to run a DNA test, too.
  • I shall return to tell her stories at bedtime,
  • You know, I could tell just by looking at her... something was wrong.
  • I had to at least tell her why I wasn't answering.
  • Or perhaps you didn't intend to tell her at all?
  • I spoke with you on the telephone only a short while ago and you did not tell me about her at that time.
  • Can you at least tell her that I've come from New York to speak with her?
  • Wouldn't it be better to tell her even if the timing is wrong than never to tell her at all?
  • Will you at least tell her we love her and we're here for her?
  • "I shall return to tell her stories at bedtime, to feed her spinach, and to teach her how to drink milk out of a glass."
  • Difficult to tell at that distance.
  • It's hard to tell at this stage of decomposition.
  • I've got a funny story to tell at dinner parties.

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