ADV

bluntly, curtly, flatly
She told me bluntly it was my own fault
gravely
smugly
truthfully
falsely

VERB + TELL

want to
be going to
I was going to tell you?I just didn't get round to it
try to
hate to
I hate to tell you, but the car's a write-off
let sb
I tried to tell them but they wouldn't let me

PREP

about
I never told him about the money
of
No one had told her of the dangers
to
He told the story to all his friends

ADV

firmly, sternly
'Calm down,' he told her firmly