What is the difference between "tell" and "tell of?"

 What is the difference between "tell" and "tell of?"

ChatGPT 說：

Good question — “tell” and “tell of” differ mainly in focus and formality:

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🟢 1. “tell” = to say or inform directly

It focuses on communicating information clearly or directly.

Form:
tell + someone + something

Examples:

• He told me the truth.（他告訴我實情。）

• Please tell her to come in.（請告訴她進來。）

• Don’t tell lies.（不要說謊。）

👉 Here, tell means “to communicate facts or instructions.”

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🟣 2. “tell of” = to speak about / to describe / to recount

It focuses on describing or giving an account of something, often used in more formal, literary, or biblical contexts.

Form:
tell of + noun / event / experience

Examples:

• The scriptures tell of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.（經文講述了耶穌基督的復活。）

• She told of her childhood in the countryside.（她述說了自己在鄉下的童年。）

• The painting tells of great suffering.（這幅畫訴說著巨大的苦難。）

👉 Here, tell of means “to describe,” “to bear witness to,” or “to reveal through words or symbols.”

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⚖️ Comparison Summary

Expression	Meaning	Typical Use	Tone	Example
tell	to say, inform, command	everyday, direct speech	neutral	He told me to wait.
tell of	to describe, narrate, testify	formal, story-like, biblical	elevated	The Book of Mormon tells of ancient prophets.