Discurso Indireto: Say vs. Tell
say vs. tell faz seu discurso indireto soar natural e fluente!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'tell' when you mention the listener; use 'say' when you focus on the words spoken.
- Tell + Person: Always follow 'tell' with a personal object (e.g., 'Tell me').
- Say + Words: Use 'say' followed by the message or 'that' (e.g., 'Say hello').
- Say + To + Person: If you use 'say' with a person, you must use 'to' (e.g., 'Say to him').
Overview
say e tell no reported speech (discurso indireto) é um passo fundamental para qualquer aluno de nível B1 que deseja soar mais natural e preciso em inglês. Embora ambos os verbos girem em torno da comunicação e da transmissão de informações, a estrutura gramatical que eles exigem é bem diferente. Em português, nós usamos o verbo dizer tanto para dizer algo quanto para dizer a alguém, frequentemente apenas mudando o complemento.
tell.dizer é muito versátil. No entanto, entender essa regra é crucial porque, ao contrário do português, onde a omissão do receptor da mensagem raramente causa erro gramatical, em inglês, o uso incorreto desses verbos pode fazer com que a frase soe quebrada ou gramaticalmente incorreta para um falante nativo. Pense nisso como uma ferramenta de precisão: say foca no conteúdo da mensagem, enquanto tell foca na transferência da informação para um receptor específico.dizer (que funciona como say) e o verbo contar (que funciona como tell). Por exemplo, dizemos Eu disse a eleou
Eu contei a ele.
tell funciona como um verbo bitransitivo na maioria das vezes, exigindo um objeto (quem ouve) logo após o verbo. É como se o verbo tell fosse incompleto sem a pessoa que recebe a informação. Se você diz He told that..., um nativo vai sentir que falta algo, pois você precisa dizer *quem* foi informado.say não aceita um objeto indireto diretamente. Você não pode dizer He said me, pois isso é um erro clássico de L1 (interferência do português). Com say, se você quiser mencionar a pessoa, precisa usar a preposição to, como em He said to me.say é o nosso dizer e o tell é o nosso contar ou avisar. A grande diferença é que o contar em português aceita o objeto indireto naturalmente, enquanto o dizer também aceita, mas em inglês o say recusa o objeto direto da pessoa sem a preposição. Essa distinção reflete uma lógica de foco: tell é sobre a interação entre duas pessoas (transmissão de informação), enquanto say é sobre o enunciado em si (o conteúdo que foi falado).say + (that) + clause | She said (that) she was happy. | Ela disse que estava feliz. |say + to + object + clause | He said to me that he was busy. | Ele me disse que estava ocupado. |tell + object + (that) + clause | She told me (that) she was happy. | Ela me contou que estava feliz. |tell + object + infinitive | He told us to wait there. | Ele nos disse para esperar lá. |tell + object + infinitive, estamos relatando um comando ou uma instrução. Em português, usamos pedir para ou dizer para. Em inglês, tell é o verbo padrão para ordens ou conselhos relatados. Nunca use say nessa estrutura de infinitivo.say quando o foco for estritamente o conteúdo da mensagem. É muito comum em citações diretas ou quando o receptor da mensagem é irrelevante ou desconhecido. Por exemplo: The sign says No Parking. Note que não há um receptor humano aqui, apenas uma informação.say em expressões fixas como say hello, say goodbye ou say sorry. Nessas expressões, o uso de tell soaria completamente estranho.tell quando a informação é direcionada a alguém. Se você está contando uma fofoca, uma história ou dando uma instrução, use tell. Pense em situações do dia a dia: se você está no trabalho e precisa relatar o que seu chefe pediu, você dirá: My boss told me to finish the report. Aqui, o foco é a ordem dada a você.The boss said that the project is delayed. Percebe como o tell traz uma carga de transferência de informaçãomaior?
tell é obrigatório em expressões como tell a lie, tell the truth, tell a story e tell the time. Se você memorizar essas expressões como blocos, evitará muitos erros. Lembre-se: se você pode colocar um para mim ou para ele depois do verbo, pergunte-se se você está apenas dizendo (foco no conteúdo) ou contando/informando (foco na pessoa).tell é a escolha certa.- 1O erro do
Say me: O erro mais comum de brasileiros é dizerHe said me that.... Isso acontece porque, em português,dizeraceita objeto indireto sem preposição (Ele me disse). Em inglês,sayé intransitivo em relação à pessoa, exigindoto. Correção: UseHe told me that...ouHe said to me that....
- 1O erro da omissão do objeto com Tell: Muitos alunos dizem
He told that he was tired. Como em portuguêsele contou que estava cansado
soa bem, esquecemos quetellprecisa de um complemento. Correção: Sempre adicione quem foi informado:He told me that he was tiredouHe told his brother that....
- 1Uso de Tell em citações diretas: É comum vermos alunos escrevendo
She told,. Isso soa muito estranho.I am coming.Tellnão é usado para introduzir falas diretas. Correção: UseShe said,.I am coming.
He said me that he was late. | He said that he was late. |He said me to go. | He told me to go. |He said a story. | He told a story. |dizer e contar são frequentemente intercambiáveis dependendo do contexto regional, em inglês, essa distinção é gramaticalmente rígida. O say é focado no verbo (o ato de emitir palavras), enquanto o tell é focado no resultado (o ato de informar alguém).say to sempre que quiser?tell + objeto para soar mais natural.tell a lie e não say a lie?contar uma mentira é uma expressão fixa (collocation) em inglês. O verbo tell está intrinsecamente ligado a narrativas e fatos, enquanto say está ligado a palavras isoladas.tell sem objeto?contar algo que já foi mencionado anteriormente, como em I told you!, mas, mesmo assim, o objeto (you) está presente. Nunca use tell sem um objeto explícito ou implícito que se refira a uma pessoa.Irregular Forms of Say and Tell
| Base Form | Past Simple | Past Participle | Third Person Singular | Present Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Say
|
Said /sed/
|
Said /sed/
|
Says /sez/
|
Saying
|
|
Tell
|
Told /toʊld/
|
Told /toʊld/
|
Tells
|
Telling
|
Meanings
The primary function of 'say' and 'tell' is to report information, thoughts, or instructions that were previously expressed by someone else.
Reporting Information
Using verbs to relay a message from one person to another.
“He said that the meeting was canceled.”
“They told us the news this morning.”
Giving Instructions
Using 'tell' to report an order or a strong request.
“The doctor told me to stay in bed.”
“She told him not to worry.”
Idiomatic Expressions
Fixed phrases where only one of the two verbs is correct regardless of the general rule.
“Tell a lie / Tell the truth.”
“Say a prayer.”
Reference Table
| Verbo | Uso | Exemplo (Direto) | Exemplo (Indireto) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
say
|
Relato geral, sem objeto direto para a pessoa a quem se fala.
|
`He said, "I'm tired." `
|
`He said he was tired.`
|
|
say to
|
Quando você quer especificar a quem se falou, mas é opcional e menos comum.
|
`She said to me, "It's late." `
|
`She said to me that it was late.`
|
|
tell
|
Sempre seguido por um objeto direto (a quem se contou).
|
`He told me, "Come here!" `
|
`He told me to come there.`
|
|
tell
|
Usado para instruções, informações, histórias, segredos, notícias.
|
`She told her friend, "I have a secret." `
|
`She told her friend she had a secret.`
|
|
tell
|
Para comandos, `tell` + objeto + infinitivo.
|
`My boss told us, "Finish by Friday." `
|
`My boss told us to finish by Friday.`
|
|
say
|
Com 'that' clause, 'that' é frequentemente omitido.
|
`He said (that) he would be late.`
|
`He said (that) he would be late.`
|
|
tell
|
Com 'that' clause, 'that' é frequentemente opcional, mas o objeto nunca é.
|
`She told them (that) she loved the gift.`
|
`She told them (that) she loved the gift.`
|
Espectro de formalidade
He informed me of his resignation. (Workplace gossip)
He told me he was quitting. (Workplace gossip)
He said he's out of here. (Workplace gossip)
He was like, 'I'm done.' (Workplace gossip)
Exemplos por nível
He says 'Hello'.
He says 'Hello'.
Tell me your name.
Tell me your name.
She said 'Yes'.
She said 'Yes'.
They told us the secret.
They told us the secret.
I told him that I was busy.
I told him that I was busy.
What did you say to her?
What did you say to her?
He told a very funny joke.
He told a very funny joke.
She said she didn't like the food.
She said she didn't like the food.
The teacher told the students to open their books.
The teacher told the students to open their books.
I said that I would think about it.
I said that I would think about it.
Can you tell me how to get to the station?
Can you tell me how to get to the station?
He said to me that he was moving to London.
He said to me that he was moving to London.
It is said that the castle is haunted.
It is said that the castle is haunted.
He told me off for being late again.
He told me off for being late again.
I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
She said she'd been waiting for over an hour.
She said she'd been waiting for over an hour.
To tell you the truth, I'm quite disappointed.
To tell you the truth, I'm quite disappointed.
The evidence says otherwise.
The evidence says otherwise.
I was told that the position had been filled.
I was told that the position had been filled.
Needless to say, we were all very surprised.
Needless to say, we were all very surprised.
There is much to be said for his approach.
There is much to be said for his approach.
The clock told of a time long forgotten.
The clock told of a time long forgotten.
He has the final say in all budgetary matters.
He has the final say in all budgetary matters.
I can't tell one twin from the other.
I can't tell one twin from the other.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use 'say' when they mean the act of talking or using a language.
Learners use 'tell' to describe a two-way conversation.
Learners forget the 'to' when using 'say' with a person.
Erros comuns
He said me hello.
He said hello to me.
She told that she is happy.
She said that she is happy.
I tell to him the news.
I tell him the news.
He said me his name.
He told me his name.
They said us to wait.
They told us to wait.
Can you say me the time?
Can you tell me the time?
He told a prayer.
He said a prayer.
I said him that I would come.
I told him that I would come.
She told to me a lie.
She told me a lie.
He said me to shut up.
He told me to shut up.
The report tells that profits are up.
The report says that profits are up.
Padrões de frases
She told me that ___.
He said, '___'.
They told us to ___.
It's hard to tell the difference between ___ and ___.
Real World Usage
He said he's gonna be late.
My previous boss told me I was a great team player.
The witness said that the car was blue.
I told him to turn left at the light.
The post says the event is canceled.
The agent told me my refund was processed.
Sempre procure pelo ouvinte
She told her friend a secret.
Não 'say' uma história!
tell a story, tell a lie, tell a joke, tell the truth, tell the time. São expressões fixas onde 'tell' é sempre usado. Can you tell me the time?
Pense em 'informação' para 'tell'
He told the class the new rules.
Legendas geralmente omitem o 'that'
He said he was busy.
Pratique com eventos passados
I told my mom what happened.
Smart Tips
Stop! Change it to 'told me' or 'said to me'.
Always use 'tell' + person + 'to'. It's the cleanest way to report an order.
Always check for the 'to'.
Use 'says', not 'tells'.
Pronúncia
The 'Said' Vowel
The word 'said' is pronounced with a short /e/ sound, like 'bed'. It does NOT rhyme with 'paid'.
The 'Says' Vowel
Similarly, 'says' is pronounced /sez/, rhyming with 'fez', not /seɪz/.
Told Diphthong
The 'o' in 'told' is a long diphthong /oʊ/, like in 'gold' or 'cold'.
Reporting Emphasis
He TOLD me (not just said it!)
Emphasizing 'told' stresses that the information was specifically directed at the listener.
Memorize
Mnemônico
TELL needs a TAIL (a person at the end of the verb). SAY is for what you SPAY (speak/display).
Associação visual
Imagine the word 'TELL' having a long arm reaching out to grab a person (me, you, him). Imagine 'SAY' as a speech bubble containing only words, with no one nearby.
Rhyme
If you mention who you sell the news to, use TELL. If the words are all you say, then SAY is the way.
Story
Tom wanted to share a secret. He **said** 'I have a secret' to the wall. Then he saw Mary. He **told Mary** the secret. Mary **said** 'Wow!' and then she **told everyone**.
Word Web
Desafio
Look at your last 3 sent text messages. If you were reporting them to a friend, would you use 'say' or 'tell'? Write them out now.
Notas culturais
Using 'tell' for orders is common, but in some cultures, it can sound too direct or aggressive. Using 'He said that I should...' is slightly softer than 'He told me to...'.
In casual American English, 'be like' is frequently used instead of 'say' or 'tell' to report speech and thoughts simultaneously.
The phrase 'I've been told' is a common polite way to introduce a piece of information without naming the source, often used in professional settings.
Both verbs come from Old English roots. 'Say' comes from 'secgan' (to say, speak, tell), and 'tell' comes from 'tellan' (to count, reckon, relate).
Iniciadores de conversa
What did your best friend tell you recently?
Tell me about a time someone told you a secret.
What is the funniest joke someone has ever told you?
If you could say one thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
She ___ me she couldn't make it to the party.
Find and fix the mistake:
The news reporter told that the storm was approaching.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesShe ___ me that she was tired.
He ___ that he would be late for the meeting.
Find and fix the mistake:
I said him to be quiet.
He said to me, 'I am hungry.'
Match the following:
A: What did the doctor ___ you? B: He ___ I should eat more vegetables.
Select the correct sentence.
You can use 'say' with a person if you use 'to'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMy coach always ___ us to train harder.
The weather forecast told it would rain tomorrow.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Meu professor me disse para ler o capítulo três.'
Arrange these words into a sentence: "the", "truth", "said", "always", "He", "to", "him", "me", "tell"
Match the reported verb with the correct structure:
The sign ___ 'No Parking'.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ela disse que me ligaria de volta.'
He told a lie on his resume.
Arrange these words into a sentence: "the", "truth", "told", "her", "He"
Match the sentence beginning with the correct continuation:
Score: /12
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes, but only in specific idioms like `tell a lie`, `tell the truth`, `tell a story`, or `tell the time`.
Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it is much less common than `He told me`. It sounds a bit more formal or old-fashioned.
`Tell` is for giving information (one-way), while `talk` is for having a conversation (two-way).
This is an old idiomatic use of 'tell' meaning 'to count' or 'to account for'.
Yes! `Tell me that you love me` is a perfect example of 'tell + person + that-clause'.
No. `Said` is pronounced /sed/, rhyming with 'red' or 'bed'.
You can, but you need to use 'that' and a modal verb: `He said that I should go`. `He told me to go` is more direct.
If you aren't mentioning the listener, you must use `say`. Example: `Someone said there was a fire.`
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
decir / contar
Spanish allows 'me dijo' (he said me), which is impossible in English.
dire / raconter
French doesn't have a direct equivalent to the 'tell + person' structural rule.
sagen / erzählen
German 'sagen' is used more often with people than English 'say'.
iu (言う) / tsutaeru (伝える)
Japanese doesn't distinguish between say/tell based on the presence of a listener in the same way.
qala (قال) / akhbara (أخبر)
Arabic uses one verb ('qala') for both 'say' and 'tell' in 90% of cases.
shuō (说) / gàosù (告诉)
Chinese 'shuō' can sometimes take a person as an object in casual speech.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vídeos relacionados
02:24 YouTube vs Grey: A Ballad of Accidental Suspension
09:41 Let's talk about porn literacy: Sex Ed #12
09:32 The Hidden Politics of Home: Crash Course Latin American Literature #8
REPORTED SPEECH in English - Indirect Speech | Reported Speech | Direct Speech (+ Free PDF & Quiz)
English with Lucy
REPORTED SPEECH | INDIRECT SPEECH | DIRECT SPEECH - statements, questions, commands
Arnel's Everyday English
Related Grammar Rules
Voz Passiva para Objetividade: 'Diz-se que...'
Overview Já te perguntaste por que os repórteres de notícias parecem tão sérios? Eles raramente dizem "eu acho que isto...
Discurso Indireto com Modais e Relato Passivo (C1)
Overview Já se perguntou por que alguém diz `It's rumored that he might have ghosted her` em vez de apenas `He ghosted...
Quando Usar a Voz Passiva (Relatar Notícias e Rumores)
### Overview No nível intermediário (B1), você começa a perceber que a comunicação em inglês vai muito além de apenas d...
Estruturas de Relato Passivo (Diz-se que ele é...)
### Overview As estruturas de relato passivo, exemplificadas por frases como `He is said to be...` (Diz-se que ele é...)...
A Voz Passiva: Foco nas Ações (Passiva no Presente Simples)
### Visão Geral A voz passiva é uma estrutura gramatical fundamental em inglês, permitindo que você mude o foco dentro...
