간접화법 마스터: say vs tell 구분

say는 단독, tell은 반드시 목적어(사람)와 함께 사용한다

say와 tell의 근본적 차이

say와 tell은 모두 '말하다'이지만 문법 구조가 다릅니다: • say: '무엇을' 말했는지에 초점 He said (that) he was busy. ✅ He said something interesting. ✅ • tell: '누구에게' 말했는지에 초점 He told me (that) he was busy. ✅ He told me something interesting. ✅ 💡 핵심 차이: say + (that) 절 / say + 내용 tell + 사람 + (that) 절 / tell + 사람 + 내용 이 구분은 간접화법의 기초이자 가장 빈번한 오류 포인트입니다.

say의 사용법

say의 올바른 패턴: 1️⃣ say + that절 She said that she was happy. 2️⃣ say + 직접인용 He said, 'I'll be there.' 3️⃣ say + 명사(내용) She said something / nothing / a few words. 4️⃣ say + to + 사람 (비표준, 가끔 사용) He said to me that he was sorry. (가능하지만 tell이 자연스러움) ❌ 틀린 패턴: • She said me that… → She told me that… ✅ • He said us to go. → He told us to go. ✅

tell의 사용법

tell의 올바른 패턴: 1️⃣ tell + 사람 + that절 She told me that she was leaving. 2️⃣ tell + 사람 + to do (명령/요청) He told me to wait. 3️⃣ tell + 사람 + 명사 She told me the truth / a lie / a story / a joke. 4️⃣ tell + 사람 + wh-절 He told me where he lived. 💡 tell이 사람 목적어 없이 쓰이는 관용 표현: • tell the truth / tell a lie / tell a story / tell the time • tell the difference / tell apart 이 경우는 예외적으로 사람 없이도 가능합니다.

비슷한 보고 동사들

say/tell 외에 유용한 보고 동사: • speak: 일방적 발화, 언어/주제 + about She spoke about the project. He speaks English fluently. • talk: 대화, + about/to/with We talked about the issue. I need to talk to you. • mention: 언급하다 (사람 목적어 불가) He mentioned that he was moving. ❌ He mentioned me that… • explain: 설명하다 (사람 목적어는 to + 사람) She explained the problem to me. ❌ She explained me the problem.

Examples

그녀는 파티에 오겠다고 말했다. — She said that she would come to the party.

그가 회의가 취소됐다고 나에게 말했다. — He told me that the meeting was canceled.

그녀가 아이들에게 자라고 말했다. — She told the children to go to bed.

그는 회의 중에 중요한 말을 했다. — He said something important during the meeting.

역이 어디인지 알려주시겠어요? — Can you tell me where the station is?