"You did not tell me" vs "You did not tell me this before"

Question

"You did not tell me" vs "You did not tell me this before"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'You did not tell me this before' is used when emphasizing the specific timing of when the information was not shared, while 'You did not tell me' is a more general statement about not receiving information. The choice between the two depends on whether you want to highlight the timing or not.

Last Updated: March 08, 2024

This phrase is a general statement indicating that information was not communicated without focusing on when it happened.

Examples:

You did not tell me about the change in plans.
You did not tell me the truth.

Alternatives:

You didn't inform me.
You failed to mention it to me.
You neglected to tell me.
You kept this from me.
You didn't share this with me.

This phrase is used when you want to point out that the information was not shared at a particular point in time in the past.

Examples:

You did not tell me this before we left for the trip.
You did not tell me this before the meeting started.

Alternatives:

You did not tell me earlier.
You did not mention this before.
You did not inform me about this before.
You did not let me know this before.
You did not share this with me before.

Answer 1

You did not tell me

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express that information was not shared without specifying the timing.

Answer 2

You did not tell me this before

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to emphasize the specific timing of when the information was not shared.

"You did not tell me" vs "You did not tell me this before"

You did not tell me

You did not tell me this before

Related Comparisons