Syntax

Say, tell

Present	Past
say	said
tell	told

Immediately after tell we say who is spoken to.

He told her that it was time to go.
Tell them what time to be at the party.

After say we don't have to put who is spoken to.

Did you say something?
Remember to say good-bye when you leave.

After say, if we do put who is spoken to, we put to before the person or thing.

She said to John that she would do it.

After both say and tell we can put that or we can leave it out.

He told her that it was time to go.
He told her it was time to go.
She said that she would do it.
She said she would do it.