paco2004  +  101794 Sat, 21 May 05 08:39 PM Hello teachers Do you feel any difference between "He lied" and "He told a lie"? I ask this because I saw an opinion in an online forum by English learners that native speakers rarely use "tell a lie" in everyday speech on the reason that the noun "lie" connotes something criminal or morally/religiously sinful. According to the opinion, the simple verb "lie" is somehow weaker than "tell a lie" in the notion of blame or reproach. Is it true? paco paco2004 Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004 Senior Member 4,095 In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English. Verbs, Difference Between, Nouns

	Clive  +  101797 Sat, 21 May 05 09:10 PM Hi Paco, Yes, I'd say there is a difference. Here are some very brief thoughts. tell a lie Makes the lie seem more child-like, more innocent - we say that a child tells a lie. Seems less morally wrong, more minor. Separates the person from the 'words'. It does sound a bit religious in tone. Perhaps the separation of person from words offers the implicit hope of forgiveness of sin? Yes, I think we use the phrase less often lie Is not weaker, it sounds worse, more serious. To say a child 'lies' is more serious. It suggests more of a habit. We'd be more likely to say a politician 'lied' . It sounds serious We'd be less likely to say a politician 'told a lie'. Others may have other opinions? Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,585 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	paco2004  +  101810 Sat, 21 May 05 11:53 PM Hello Clive Thank you for the quick reply. I'm a little surprised to hear that "somebody tells a lie" sounds less morally wrong than "somebody lies". Anyway I like to hear additional opinions from other people. paco paco2004

	khoff  +  101819 Sun, 22 May 05 01:13 AM I agree with Clive - saying "he told a lie" sounds like there might be extenuating circumstances -- "he told a lie, but it was to avoid embarrassing someone" while "he lied" doesn't leave much room for explanations. "He lied" also has more of a suggestion of a habitual action, rather than a specific circumstance. (Are you familiar with the expression "a little white lie"? That means a harmless lie that is told for a good cause - for instance, to avoid hurting someone's feelings.) khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,264 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

	CalifJim  +  101842 Sun, 22 May 05 05:15 AM Clive, I agree with that assessment. It pretty much sums up the difference. Jim CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,389 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	paco2004  +  101892 Sun, 22 May 05 12:03 PM Hello Clive, Khoff, and CJ Thank you for the replies. Now I understand what that poster said in the Japanese forum was completely opposite to correct usages. Your answers are really precious, because no dictionary gives us this kind of detailed usage explanation. paco paco2004