tell不是延续动词。
tell是瞬间性动词，不是延续性动词。判断动词是终止性的还是延续性的就是看动词所执行的动作持续时间的长短。
如：
tell在tell stories 中是延续性动词，表示这个动作会一直持续下去，可以用现在完成时
tell的基本用法
1、tell做动词，意为“告诉，告知”其后可接双宾语或宾语从句。也可以接动词不定式作宾补。
例句：
Please tell me your telephone number.请告诉我你的电话号码。
You can tell him to stay at home.你可以告诉他呆在家里。
2、tell做不及物动词，意为讲诉。
例句：
I can't tell.我说不出来。
3、tell做名词，意为“话，传说”。
例句：
I have a tell for you.我有话跟你说。
tell相关短语及例句
1、tell about(v.+prep.) 告诉有关…的情况 tell about sb/sth
例句：
She told about Linda， who was very kind to her.她谈了谈林达的情况，林达对她非常好。
He told about his plans.他谈到他的计划。
2、tell against(v.+prep.) 证实对…不利 tell against sb/sth
例句：
In an investigation， a new fact became known， which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
Her poor eyesight is bound to tell against her applying for a job.她视力不好，必然不利于她找工作。
3、tell apart(v.+adv.) 区分开 tell sb/sth apart
说明：tell apart通常不用于进行体。
例句：
The two brothers are so much alike that their own mother can hardly tell them apart.这两兄弟长得太像了，连他们的母亲几乎都不能区分他们。
4、tell from(v.+prep.) 辨别 tell sb/sth from sb/sth
例句：
Can you tell her from her twin sister?你能将她和她的孪生姐妹分开吗?
How can we tell the good from the bad?我们怎么能区分好坏?
He is a fellow who can't tell right from wrong.他是个分不清是非的人。
5、tell it like it is 讲真话，说实话
例句：
Joe is our monitor， he should tell it like it is.乔是我们的班长，他会告诉你实情。
He's very straightforward， you can be sure he'll always tell it like it is.他很直率，你可以相信他总是讲实话的。
