Tell sb from sb Meaning & Examples | How to Use the Phrasal Verb

What Does “Tell sb from sb” Mean?

“Tell sb from sb” means to be able to recognize the difference between two people or things.

Introduction

The phrase “Tell sb from sb” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone can distinguish between two individuals or objects. It often refers to recognizing differences in appearance, behavior, or characteristics. Understanding the “Tell sb from sb” meaning helps learners describe situations where it is difficult or easy to identify who or what is who or what. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, especially when discussing people who look similar or items that are alike. Knowing how to use “Tell sb from sb” correctly can make your English sound more natural and clear.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Tell sb from sb (tell somebody from somebody)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To recognize the difference between two people or things

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Tell sb from sb” is a separable phrasal verb where you can place the object between “tell” and “from” or after the whole phrase. The usual pattern is:

• tell somebody from somebody
• tell one person from another person

Example: “I can’t tell John from his brother.” It is not common to separate “from” from the person after it.

How to Use Tell sb from sb?

Use “Tell sb from sb” when you want to express whether you can recognize or distinguish between two similar people or things. It is often used in negative or questioning forms to indicate difficulty in recognizing differences.

Common subjects include people who look alike, twins, or objects that appear very similar. You can use it in everyday conversations, stories, or descriptions.

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “Tell sb from sb” in context:

• I can’t tell the twins from each other because they dress the same way.
• She looks so much like her sister that it’s hard to tell them apart.
• Can you tell the real painting from the fake one?
• At first, I couldn’t tell him from his cousin, but then I noticed his voice.
• Tell sb from sb in a sentence: “It’s difficult to tell Mark from Mike when they wear sunglasses.”

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse the phrase or use wrong prepositions. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: I can’t tell John and his brother.
• Correct: I can’t tell John from his brother.
• Incorrect: Can you tell the twins apart from each other? (redundant)
• Correct: Can you tell the twins from each other?

Remember, “tell sb from sb” is the correct phrase. Avoid using “and” or “apart from” directly with this phrase.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include:

• Tell apart: Focuses on recognizing differences between two similar things or people.
• Distinguish: More formal word meaning to recognize or point out differences.

Difference: “Tell sb from sb” specifically compares two people or things, while “tell apart” is more general. “Distinguish” can be used in formal writing.

Common Collocations

You often hear “tell sb from sb” with people or items that are hard to recognize. Here are common collocations:

• Tell twins from each other – recognizing identical siblings
• Tell brothers from each other – differentiating between siblings
• Tell real from fake – identifying authenticity
• Tell copies from originals – distinguishing duplicates
• Tell friends from strangers – recognizing familiar people

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of tell sb from sb:

• Tell Sb
• Tell Sth
• Tell Sth From Sb
• Tell Sb Off
• Tell Sb From Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “Tell sb from sb” naturally:

Alice: I always mix up those two actors. Can you tell them apart?

Ben: Actually, I can tell one from the other because one has a scar on his cheek.

Alice: Oh, I never noticed that! It’s hard to tell them from each other.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “tell sb from sb”:

• I can’t ________ the twins ________ each other because they dress the same.
• Can you ________ the real painting ________ the fake one?
• It’s difficult to ________ my brother ________ his best friend.

FAQ

• What does “tell sb from sb” mean? It means to recognize the difference between two people or things.
• Is “tell sb from sb” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “tell” and “from.”
• Can I use “tell sb from sb” with objects? Yes, it applies to objects as well as people.
• What is the difference between “tell sb from sb” and “tell apart”? “Tell sb from sb” compares two specific people or things. “Tell apart” is more general.
• Is “tell sb and sb” correct? No, always use “tell sb from sb.”