The Dutch Grammar Forum

I thought that we have to use tegen when speak to somebody
Hij vertelde het tegen me.
Now I saw in the text
De bakker vertelde het aan me.

Does it matter what to use?

Thank you

Zeggen tegen iemand.
Vertellen aan iemand.

Thank you

What about spreken and praten?

For "spreken" en "praten", definitely not "aan". Either "tegen" or "met".

For "zeggen", both "aan" and "tegen" are possible, I'm inclined to say that "aan" is more formal/written and "tegen" more informal/spoken language. For "vertellen", definitely "aan".

It's a bit hard to explain, but the way I look at it, the "aan" implies some kind of giving ("geven", as you may know, almost inevitably uses "aan"). As in, with "zeggen", "vertellen" and similar verbs, you are "giving" the listener a particular bit of information, or instruction, or opinion.

Whereas "spreken" en "praten" do not specify any such thing - you are merely talking, not necessarily "giving" anything to the listener. If there is a listener at all; the famous "talk to the hand, 'cause the face won't listen" is generally translated with "spreek tegen de hand...".

I would say "spreken/praten tegen" is particularly used in those situations where the conversation is fairly or entirely one-sided (also e.g. people talking to themselves, or to animals, or inanimate objects). If it's a more balanced two-way conversation, "met" (= with) is more likely, but "tegen" remains possible also.


And just so you don't get confused: there is also a separable verb, "tegenspreken", which means to argue with someone or dispute what he/she is saying. That one is transitive though, it requires a direct object (= the person who you're arguing with). E.g. a mother telling her child "Spreek me niet tegen!".

Again, it was perfect.

Thanx