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"Tell a story" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "contar una historia", and "count" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "contar". Learn more about the difference between "tell a story" and "count" below.
tell a story(
tehl
uh
stor
-
i
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (general)
a. contar una historia
Grandpa told a story about fishing.El abuelo contó una historia sobre la pesca.
b. decir una historia
Suzanne tells her children a story every night before bed.Suzanne les dice una historia a sus hijos cada noche antes de acostarse.
d. decir un cuento
George told us an unbelievable story about his trip to Mexico.George nos dijo un cuento increíble sobre su viaje a México.
e. decir un relato
Becky told us a story about her grandmother's experience in Poland as a little girl.Becky nos dijo un relato sobre la experiencia de su abuela en Polonia cuando era niña.
f. contar un relato
Hugo told us a story about his experience.Hugo nos contó un relato sobre su experiencia.
count(
kaunt
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. contar
Can you count how many people are coming to dinner?¿Puedes contar cuántos vendrán a cenar?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. contar
Every vote counts.Cada voto cuenta.
What I said before does not count.Lo que dije antes no cuenta.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
4. (nobility)
a. el conde (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Several European countries still have dukes and counts among their ranks of nobility.En varios países europeos, duques y condes aún forman parte de sus rangos de nobleza.
5. (legal)
