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Synonyms for "Said"

Other words for reporting speech (Indirect Speech)

 

speaker
 

 

SUBJECT + VERB INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN QUOTE  / THAT–CLAUSE

A number of verbs express a meaning of "say".  The verbs differ slightly in meaning, and  in the way they are complemented (completed).

Some verbs require an indirect object, while other verbs optionally include a prepositional phrase with the recipient of the action. See Indirect Objects.

The sentence complement may be a noun phrase, quoted speech, an infinitive clause, a that-clause, a prepositonal phrase, and so on.

SAID

PREP PHRASE

to me

(to you, to him, to her, to them, to us, to John, to the class)

 

"It is nearby."

that it is nearby.
that it was nearby. (formal)  

 

TOLD

NOUN / PRONOUN

me

(you, him, her, them, us, John, the class)

 

"It is nearby."

that it is nearby.
that it was nearby. (formal)  

 

 

me

(you, him, her, them, us, John, the class)

 

to stay nearby.  (infinitive clause)

ADD

NONE

 

 

"It is nearby."

that it is nearby.
that it was nearby. (formal)  

 

A comma separates a statement before a quote: He said, "Hello".
Note that said may also be complemented by a noun phrase.  He said nothing to me. The prepositional phrase is placed after a short element, such as a noun phrase, and is placed before a long element, such as a quote or a clause.
Also see Indirect Objects   Say / Tell   Verb+Noun+Infin Asking other people to do things

 

 

 

 

Synonyms for "Said"

List

 

Say / Tell / Add
SAID (TO ME) THAT TOLD ME THAT ADDED THAT

These verbs are similar to said and can optionally be followed by an indirect object (to me, to him, to her, to us, to them,  to you, or a proper noun) and a quote.

These verbs are similar to told and are followed by a direct object (me, him, her, us, them, you, or a proper noun) and a quote.

These verbs are similar to added and are followed by quoted speech or an optional that  in reported speech. Some verbs require a subjunctive verb.

acknowledged (to me)

mumbled (to me)

advised   (me)

notified  (me)

added

nagged

admitted (to me)

murmured (to me)

assured  (me)

reassured (me)

affirm

noted

announced (to me)

pleaded (to me)

asked (me)

told  (me)

agreed

objected

babbled (to me)

pointed out (to me)

cautioned (me)

warned  (me)

answered (to me)

observed

blurted (to me)

prayed (to God)

convinced (me)

 

approved

ordered¹

boasted (to me)

ranted (to me)

informed (me) 

 

argued

pleaded / pled

bragged (to me)

related (to me)

instructed 

  

asserted

protested 

chuckled (to me)

remarked (to me)

lectured  (me)

  

assumed

predicted

claimed (to me)

repeated (to me)

    

barked

pronounced 

commented (to me)

reported (to me)

    

bellowed

questioned

complained (to me)

replied (to me)

  

 

bargained

quoted

confided (to me)

responded (to me)

  

 

began

reasoned

declared (to me)

restated (to me)

  

 

begged

requested¹

denied (to me)

revealed (to me)

  

 

cajoled

ruled

described (to me)

roared (to me)

  

 

clarify

snapped

dictated (to me)

screamed (to me)

  

 

cited

sneered

echoed (to me)

screeched (to me)

  

 

commanded¹

snorted

emphasized (to me)

shouted (to me)

  

 

confirmed

snickered

exclaimed (to me)

shrieked (to me)

  

 

cried

spoke

explained (to me)

sobbed (to me)

  

 

decided

stammered (out)

expressed (to me)

sputtered (to me)

  

 

drawled

stormed

giggled (to me)

stated (to me)

  

 

demanded¹

suggested¹

growled (to me)

sighed (to me)

  

 

estimated

taunted

hinted (to me)

squawked (to me)

  

 

enunciated

thought

hissed (to me)

squeaked (to me)

  

 

exploded

urged¹

howled (to me)

uttered (to me)

  

 

feared

wept

indicated (to me)

vowed (to me)

  

 

grinned

whimpered

lied (to me)

wailed (to me)

  

 

hollered

whined

mentioned (to me)

whispered (to me)

  

 

insisted¹

yawned

muttered (to me)

whined (to me)

  

 

interrupted

  

moaned (to me)

yelled (to me)

  

 

laughed

  

¹subjunctive – a verb that expresses ones wishes, doubts, or imposition of will (command) *Imperative Clauses 

 

 

 

Tense Agreement

Formal vs. Informal Agreement

nurse

 

 

 

Formal vs. Informal Agreement
FORMAL AGREEMENT INFORMAL AGREEMENT

When using formal agreement, the verb tense in the dependent clause adjusts to the time frame of the verb in the main (independent) clause. 

In informal speech and writing, the verb in the dependent clause can remain in the present tense if the clause is a statement of 'general truth' (a situation that still exists.)

spacermain verb affects dependent verb
She said that she was / had been a nurse (dependent clause)

spacermain verb affects dependent verb
She said that she is / was / had been a nurse (dependent clause)

She said, "I am a nurse."
She said that she was a nurse.     a permanent state

She said, "I am a nurse."
She said that she is a nurse.     Do not adjust the tense because the state still exists.

She said, "I am tired."
She said that she was tired.   a temporary / ended state


— same

She said, "I was a nurse." 
She said that she had been a nurse. a completed / ended state 
 


— same

Related pages:  Tense Adjustment  | Same Time vs. Earlier

 

 

 

Practice

Do you lie?

Liar

 

 

 

Read

Jill: I probably tell a lie a couple of times a day! (admit)

Brian: I tell lies often.  It makes life easier. (brag)

Jane: You shouldn't be so bold about it. (remark)

Brian: People don't always want the truth. (reason)

Jill: People don't want the truth. It's true. (echo)

Brian: No woman wants to hear her dress is ugly. So, I say  I say that it looks nice. (reassure)

Elena: That is a white lie. It's different. (point out)

Brian: It's still a lie. (argue)

Jane: It is told with kindness.  (interrupt)

Elena: When my mom asks if I cleaned up my mess, I say "yes". Then I go clean it up. (laugh)

Jane: That is an example of a near truth. (explain)

Brian: Enough about truthiness.  I have to go.  Oh, and nice dress, Jill. (comment)

Jill: Thank you!   Oh wait,… that's a lie? (question)

Brian: Correct.  And I don't really have to go.   (confirm)

a white lie (expression) – a lie told to avoid hurting the feelings of someone

a near truth (expression) – mostly true, but not completely true (untrue)

bold (adj.) – not afraid of taking a risk and making a difficult decision (not afraid of admitting that she does, indeed, tell a lie.

brag (v.) – to speak proudly about an accomplishment

echo (v.) – repeat, a sound that you hear again as it bounces off a surface, for example, a wall in a hall

mess (n.) – a place where things are untidy, not organized, not neat

sincere (adj.) – true, honest

truthiness – (not a real word) an unofficial word introduced by a comedian, Stephen Colbert, regarding political variations in truth.

 

 

Change it to reported speech.
  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
she cleaned up her mess after saying she had already done so.

11.

12.
Jill had a nice dress on.

13.

14.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Confidential Talk

co workers

 

 

 

 

Read for Errors

Last week, my friend say me that he is going to look for a new job.  I told that I understood why he wanted to leave, but that it might not be a good idea right now.  I explain him that the job market is very difficult right now.  He argue his boss is a very, very difficult woman to get along with, and that he wasn't getting anywhere. 

I agree him about his frustration and ask to him if he was learning anything new in his job.  He confided to me that each day is the same old thing.  So I expressed my sympathy and told to him that I would miss him if he left.  He looked sad and agreed me that he would miss his work friends.

confide (v.) – to impart secrets trustfully; discuss private matters or problems

job market (n.) – work that is available, opportunities to be hired

 

 

 

 

  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

15.
Last week, my friend say me that he is going to look for a new job.

   

16.
I told that I understood why he wanted to leave, but that it might not be a good idea right now.

   

17.
I explain him that the job market is very difficult right now.

   

18.
He argue his boss is a very, very difficult woman to get along with, and that he wasn't getting anywhere. 

   

19.
I agree him about his frustration and ask to him if he was learning anything new in his job.

   

20.
He confided to me that each day is the same old thing.

   

21.
I expressed my sympathy and told to him that I would miss him if he left.

   

22.
He looked sad and agreed me that he would miss his work friends.

   

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Title

explaining

Advanced

 

 

Read for errors

Our teacher said that we should write a essay on our favorite saying. (tell)

She said that sayings were one way in which we pass our cultural values from one generation to the next. (explain)

She said that we should choose a saying that we learned from our family.  (instruct)

She said that we should give an example of what it meant. (point out)

She said  that we shouldn't make the example too long. (warn)

She said that "Less is better". (remark)

She said that she wanted us to explain how the saying influenced our actions or our thinking. (add)

She said that we had one hour to write the essay. (indicate)

essay (n.) – a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative

 

saying (n.)  – a proverb; a short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought; adage; saw. (e.g. The early bird catches the worm. or Time is money.)

 

 

 

Change "said" to the word given in parentheses ( ).
  1. Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

23.
Our teacher said that we should write an essay on our favorite saying. (tell)


24.
She said that sayings were one way in which we pass our cultural values from one generation to the next. (explain)


25.
She said that we should choose a saying that we learned from our family.  (instruct)


26.
She said that we should give an example of what it meant. (point out)


27.
She said  that we shouldn't make the example too long. (warn)


28.
She said that "Less is better". (remark)


29.
She said that she wanted us to explain how the saying influenced our actions or our thinking. (add)


30.
She said that we had one hour to write the essay. (indicate)