What Does “Tell sb from sth” Mean?
“Tell sb from sth” means to be able to recognize or distinguish one person or thing from another.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “Tell sb from sth” is commonly used when you want to describe the ability to differentiate between two people or things. It’s especially useful when two things look very similar or when it is difficult to recognize someone or something. Understanding the “Tell sb from sth meaning” helps learners use this phrase naturally in daily conversations, improving clarity when talking about identification or recognition. This phrase is often used in both spoken and written English to express confusion or certainty about distinguishing between items or individuals.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Tell somebody from something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To recognize or distinguish one person or thing from another
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Tell sb from sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate the verb and the preposition.
The common pattern is:
- Tell + somebody + from + something/somebody
Example: I can’t tell him from his brother.
How to Use Tell sb from sth?
Use “Tell sb from sth” when you want to talk about distinguishing or recognizing people or objects that look alike or are confusing. It is mostly used in negative or interrogative sentences to show difficulty in recognizing.
Common contexts include:
- Comparing two similar people or things
- Expressing confusion about identities
- Talking about recognition skills
Examples
It’s hard to tell the twins from each other when they wear the same clothes.
- I can’t tell the original painting from the fake one.
- She couldn’t tell her friend from a stranger in the dark.
- Can you tell the difference between these two smartphones?
- He can’t tell his car from the one parked next to it.
- Tell sb from sth in a sentence: It’s difficult to tell the truth from lies sometimes.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use the verb incorrectly. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: I can’t tell from him his brother.
- Correct: I can’t tell him from his brother.
- Incorrect: Tell me the difference from these two.
- Correct: Can you tell me the difference between these two?
Remember, the phrase must include a person or thing after “tell” and “from” must connect the two items being compared.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “tell apart” and “distinguish.” However, they differ slightly:
- Tell sb from sth: Focuses on recognizing or distinguishing between two similar people or things.
- Tell apart: Means to recognize differences between two or more things.
- Distinguish: A more formal word meaning to recognize or point out differences.
Example difference: “I can’t tell the twins from each other” (informal) vs. “I can’t tell the twins apart” (neutral).
Common Collocations
People often use “tell sb from sth” with specific objects or people that are similar. Here are common collocations:
- Tell a twin from another twin: Recognize one twin from the other.
- Tell a fake from a real object: Recognize fake items from genuine ones.
- Tell a stranger from a friend: Identify someone unfamiliar versus someone known.
- Tell a copy from an original: Recognize a copy or reproduction from the original.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of tell sb from sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a simple conversation using “Tell sb from sth”:
Anna: I saw two men who looked exactly the same. I couldn’t tell one from the other.
Ben: Yeah, they were identical twins. It’s hard to tell them apart if you don’t know them well.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence using “tell sb from sth”:
- It’s difficult to _______ the real diamond _______ the fake one.
- Can you _______ your brother _______ his best friend?
- She can’t _______ her old phone _______ the new model.
FAQ
- Q: Can “tell sb from sth” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “I couldn’t tell him from his brother yesterday.”
- Q: Is “tell sb from sth” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can I use “tell sb apart” instead of “tell sb from sth”?
A: Yes, but “tell sb apart” is more common when talking about more than two people or things.
- Q: Is “tell sb from sth” separable?
A: No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Q: Can “tell sb from sth” be used with things as well as people?
A: Yes, it can be used to distinguish both people and objects.
