Man: “Did she say what happened?”

Man: She said that it was a good party.

Man: Tom says “he’s in love again.”
Woman: But if we say who we are talking to, we use “tell”+ personal object (i.e. me, him, us etc.) for direct speech and “told” + personal object for indirect speech.

For example:

Man: Jim tells me that he’s living in London now.

Woman: The doctor told me to stay in bed.

Man: I told him that it was impossible.

Woman: However, you can use “say” or “said” with a personal object if you add “to”. i.e. “you say something to somebody”

Now listen to this example:

Woman: What did you say to your boss?
Man: I said to him, that I was tired with all the extra hours I work.
Woman: What did he say to you?
Man: He said to me, that he would try and work out a better system.

Woman: Now let’s listen to these words in the following dialogue.
Woman: What did you say?
Man: I said turn the Hoover off, I’m trying to type a report.
Woman: I told you I had to clean the house today.
Man: And I told you I was working from home today. Do you have to make so much noise?
Woman: Not if you say so. What time will you finish your report? I need to put the washing machine on as well.
Man: I don’t know, with all this distraction, I said to you this morning that I needed to be left alone.
Woman: Ok, ok, I’ll go to the post office and leave everything ‘til later.
Man: What did you say? I can’t hear you because of the radio.
Woman: I said that I’m going to the post office.
Man: Aah, can you post these letters first class for me please?
Woman: Only if you tell me what time you’ll finish your report.
Man: I told you already, I don’t know, but hopefully before lunch.
Woman: See you later then.