Quatro verbos que significam “falar” — mas os usamos de forma diferente

Estes verbos parecem semelhantes, mas cada um tem um uso. Vamos aprendê-los passo a passo.

1️⃣ TELL

Significado: dizer / contar algo para alguém

Regra simples

👉 Tell + person + something
❌ No to

Exemplos

• I told you the truth.
• I told Marcos the news.
• I tell my son to eat well.

❌ I told to Marcos.

🧠 Remember: Tell já significa “a alguém”.

2️⃣ SAY

Significado: dizer palavras (foco no que é dito)

Regra simples

👉 Say + words

Normalmente NÃO mencionamos a pessoa. Quando usamos a pessoa, usamos to.
👉 Say + words + to + person

Exemplos

• I said hello.
• I said sorry to my mom.
• I said, “Relax,” to my mom.

❌ I said Marcos.

🧠 Use say para palavras ou mensagens curtas.

3️⃣ TALK

Significado: conversar / falar (interação)

Regra simples

👉 Talk + to / with + person

Exemplos

• I talked to my friend.
• Talk to me.
• We talked yesterday.

❌ Talk my friend.

4️⃣ SPEAK

Significado: falar (idiomas / de forma mais formal)

Simple rule

👉 Speak + a language
👉 Speak + to + person

Exemplos

• I speak English.
• She spoke to the teacher.

🧠 Comparação

✏️ Exercícios

Exercício 1 — Escolha o verbo correto

1. I want to ______ you something.
2. She ______ to her dad.
3. Can you ______ English?
4. Talk ______ me, please.
5. He _____ her to eat.

Exercício 2 — Right or wrong?

Write ✔ or ❌.

1. I told to my mom. ( )
2. I said hello to my mom. ( )
3. I talked my friend. ( )
4. I speak English. ( )

Exercício 3 — Corrija

1. I said Marcos hello.
2. Talk me now.
3. I told to her the truth.
4. She told to the manager.

✅ Resposta

Exercício 1

1. tell
2. spoke
3. speak
4. to
5. told

Exercício 2

1. ❌
2. ✔
3. ❌
4. ✔

Exercício 3

1. I said hello to Marcos.
2. Talk to me now.
3. I told her the truth.
4. She spoke to the manager.