Tell sth from sb Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Tell sth from sb” Mean?

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

Introduction

The phrase “Tell sth from sb” is a useful English phrasal verb that helps express the ability to distinguish or identify differences between objects or people. Understanding the Tell sth from sb meaning is important for everyday communication, especially when describing how well someone can recognize or separate one thing from another. This expression is common in both spoken and written English, making it essential for learners to use it accurately and confidently.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Tell something from somebody
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To recognize the difference between two things or people

Structure (Grammar Rules)

This phrasal verb is usually separable. You can place the object (something) between “tell” and “from,” or after “from.” The basic patterns are:

• Tell something from somebody
• Tell someone from someone else

Example: “I can’t tell the twins from each other.”

How to Use Tell sth from sb?

Use “Tell sth from sb” when you want to talk about recognizing or distinguishing between two people or things that are similar. It often appears in negative sentences to express difficulty in making the distinction.

Example: “She can’t tell good advice from bad advice.”

Examples

Imagine you meet two people who look very similar. You might say, “I can’t tell John from his brother.” This shows you find it hard to recognize who is who.

• It’s hard to tell the fake from the real painting.
• He can easily tell a lie from the truth.
• Can you tell the twins from each other?
• She can’t tell her own handwriting from her sister’s.

These examples demonstrate how to use “Tell sth from sb” in a sentence to express the ability or difficulty of distinguishing between things or people.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse this phrase with similar expressions or use it incorrectly by mixing word order.

• Incorrect: I can’t tell from the twins John.
• Correct: I can’t tell John from the twins.
• Incorrect: She can’t tell good advice to bad advice.
• Correct: She can’t tell good advice from bad advice.

Remember, the correct preposition is from, not “to” or others.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include “tell apart” and “distinguish.” However, “tell apart” usually means to recognize differences between two or more similar things, often focusing on the act of separating them mentally.

• Tell sth from sb: Emphasizes recognizing or identifying differences.
• Tell apart: Focuses on separating similar things by noticing differences.
• Distinguish: A more formal verb meaning to recognize or point out differences.

Example: “I can’t tell the twins from each other” vs. “I can’t tell the twins apart.”

Common Collocations

When using “Tell sth from sb,” certain objects commonly appear with the verb.

• Truth from lie: Recognize honesty versus falsehood.
• Real from fake: Identify genuine items versus counterfeits.
• Twins from each other: Distinguish between identical siblings.
• Advice from opinion: Separate helpful suggestions from personal views.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of tell sth from sb:

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

Real-life Dialogue

Imagine two friends talking about a confusing situation:

Anna: “Can you tell the real painting from the fake one?”

Ben: “Honestly, no. They look almost identical.”

Anna: “Me neither. It’s hard to tell them apart.”

Practice

Try to complete the sentence using the correct form of the phrasal verb:

“I can’t ___ the twins ___ each other because they dress the same.”

• a) tell / from
• b) tell / to
• c) tell / with

Correct answer: a) tell / from

FAQ

• Q: Can you use “tell sth from sb” in positive sentences?
  A: Yes, but it is often used in negative sentences to show difficulty in distinguishing.
• Q: Is “tell apart” the same as “tell from”?
  A: They are similar but “tell apart” focuses on separating, while “tell from” emphasizes recognizing differences.
• Q: What does “sth” and “sb” mean?
  A: “sth” means “something” and “sb” means “somebody.”
• Q: Can “tell sth from sb” be used with objects?
  A: Yes, it can be used to distinguish between objects as well as people.
• Q: What preposition follows “tell” in this phrase?
  A: The correct preposition is “from.”