Reported speech câu tường thuật

CÂU TƯỜNG THUẬT
(Reported speech)
I- PHÂN BIỆT CÂU TRỰC TIẾP VÀ CÂU GIÁN TIẾP
Câu trực tiếp
Câu gián tiếp
- Câu trực tiếp là câu nói của ai đó được trích - Câu gián tiếp là câu tường thuật lại lời nói của
dẫn lại nguyên văn và thường được để trong người khác theo ý của người tường thuật và ý nghĩa
dấu ngoặc kép (“… ”).
không thay đổi.
Ví dụ:
Ví dụ:
+ Mary said “ I don’t like ice-cream”. (Cô ấy nói + Mary said that she didn’t like ice-cream. (Mary
rằng: “Tôi không thích kem”.)
nói cô ấy không thích kem.)
Ta thấy trong dấu ngoặc kép là lời nói trực tiếp Ta thấy câu nói của Mary được tường thuật lại theo
của Mary và nó được trích dẫn lại một cách
cách nói của người tường thuật và ý nghĩa thì vẫn
nguyên văn.
giữ nguyên.

II- CÁC CÁCH TƯỜNG THUẬT TỪ CÂU NÓI TRỰC TIẾP SANG CÂU NÓI GIÁN TIẾP
Ta cần phân tích cấu trúc của câu trực tiếp và câu gián tiếp qua các ví dụ sau:
- My mother said “I want you to study harder.” (Mẹ tôi nói “Mẹ muốn con học hành chăm chỉ
hơn.)
Ta có:
- Động từ “said” được gọi là “Động từ giới thiệu”
- Động từ “want” là động từ chính trong câu trực tiếp.
- “I” là chủ ngữ trong câu trực tiếp
- “you” là tân ngữ trong câu trực tiếp
- My mother said / told me that she wanted me to study harder. (Mẹ tôi nó bà ấy muốn tôi học
hành chăm chỉ hơn)

Ta thấy các thành phần như “động từ giới thiệu”, động từ chính, các đại từ (I/you/…) trong câu
trực tiếp khi chuyển sang câu gián tiếp đều phải biến đổi.
Vậy những thành phần nào cần biến đổi, và biến đổi như thế nào, ta sẽ đi vào từng loại câu cụ thể.
1. Các thành phần cần biến đổi trong câu gián tiếp:
* Các đại từ: Ta cần thay đổi đại từ sao cho phù hợp với ngữ cảnh trong câu

*
T
C
H
H
H
Q
Q
T
T
1


*
T
c
w
s
m
m

*
C
n

Đ
Đ

Đ

Đ

*
T
H
N
T
A
T
T
Y
T
2


N
L
L

2. Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép là một câu trần thuật (là một câu khẳng định và mang nghĩa kể lại,
trần thuật lại điều gì đó).
- Ta cần biến đổi các đại từ cho phù hợp với ý nghĩa của câu
- Các động từ giới thiệu thường dùng là: say (that), tell sb (that)
* Nếu động từ giới thiệu chia ở các thì hiện tại, hoặc tương lai:
-> ta không cần lùi thì động từ chính trong câu gián tiếp

Ví dụ:
- She says “I don’t want to stay at home every day.”
-> She says / tells me that she doesn’t want to stay at home every day.
Ta thấy trong dấu ngoặc kép là một câu trần thuật, và động từ giới thiệu “says” chia thì hiện tại
đơn nên động từ trong câu trực tiếp không lùi thì (giữ nguyên thì) trong câu gián tiếp. Các đại từ
cần thay đổi cho phù hợp nghĩa là: I -> she
* Nếu động từ giới thiệu chia ở các thì quá khứ:
-> Ta cần lùi thì động từ chính trong câu gián tiếp
Ví dụ:
- She said “My father is travelling in America”.
-> She said that her father was travelling in America.
Ta thấy động từ giới thiệu “said” chia quá khứ đơn nên động từ trong câu trực tiếp (chia ở hiện tại
tiếp diễn) phải lùi thì trong câu gián tiếp (thì quá khứ tiếp diễn).
3. Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép là câu hỏi.
* Nếu trong dấu ngoặc kép là câu hỏi không có từ hỏi.
-> Trong câu gián tiếp thêm “if” hoặc “whether” và mệnh đề theo sau biến đổi về dạng khẳng định.
-> Động từ giới thiệu thường sử dụng: ask, wonder
Ví dụ:
- She said “Do you want to go with me?”
-> She asked if I wanted to go with her.
- Mary said “Do you go to school by bus, Peter?”
-> Mary asked Peter whether he went to school by bus.
* Nếu trong dấu ngoặc kép là câu hỏi có từ hỏi (what/where/when/how/who/…)
-> Trong câu gián tiếp phải biến đổi mệnh đề sau từ hỏi về dạng khẳng định.
-> Động từ giới thiệu thường sử dụng: ask, wonder, want to know
Ví dụ:
- He asked “what time will you come?”
-> He asked what time I would come.
3. Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép là câu mệnh lệnh thức.
-> Ta xét nghĩa của câu rồi sử dụng các cấu trúc cho phù hợp.

3


* Khi câu mệnh lệnh thức trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa yêu cầu, đề nghị ai đó làm gì ta có thể
sử dụng các cấu trúc sau:
- tell/ ask/ require/ request/ demand + sb + to do st: Yêu cầu, đề nghị hay đòi hỏi ai làm gì.
Ví dụ:
- She said to me “close the door!”
-> She asked me to close the door.
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa ra lệnh ta sử dụng cấu trúc sau:
- order sb to do st: ra lệnh cho ai làm gì.
- He said to me angrily “go out!”.
-> He ordered me to go out.
4. Các trường hợp khác:
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa đề nghị làm gì cho ai ta sử dụng cấu trúc:
- offer to do st:
- He said “Shall I make you a cup of coffee?”
-> He offered to make me a cup of coffee.
*Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa khuyên bảo ta sử dụng cấu trúc sau:
- advise sb to do st: khuyên ai đó nên làm gì.
Ví dụ:
- He said to me “You should go to bed early”.
-> He advised me to go to bed early.
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa mời mọc ta sử dụng cấu trúc sau:
- invite sb to do st
Ví dụ:
- My friend said “Will you go the zoo with me?”
-> My friend friend invited me to go to the zoo with her.
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép là câu cảm thán ta sử dụng động từ “exclaim”
Ví dụ:

- She said “What an intelligent boy!”
-> She exclaimed that the boy was intelligent.
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa xin lỗi ta sử dụng cấu trúc:
- apologize (to sb) for st/ for doing st: xin lỗi (ai) về điều gì/ vì đã làm gì
Ví dụ:
- She said "I'm sorry. I'm late."
-> She apologized for being late.
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa nhắc nhở ta sử dụng cấu trúc:
- remind sb to do st: Nhắc nhở ai làm gì
Ví dụ:
- My mother said "Don't forget to bring your umbrella."
-> My mother reminded me to bring my umbrella.
* Khi trong dấu ngoặc kép mang nghĩa buộc tội ai đó ta sử dụng cấu trúc:
- accuse sb of st/ doing st: Buộc tội ai về điều gì/ vì đã làm gì
Ví dụ:
4


- She said "No one else but you did it."
-> She accused me of doing it.

5


BÀI TẬP
Viết lại các câu sau sử dụng cách nói gián tiếp.
1. “Open the door,” he said to them.
-He told them...................................................................
2. “Where are you going?” he asked her.
-He asked her where.........................................................

3. “Which way did they go?” he asked.
-He asked... ......................................................................
4. “Bring it back if it doesn’t fit”, I said to her.
-I told... ............................................................................
5. “Don’t try to open it now,” she said to us.
-She told... ........................................................................
6. “Is it going to be a fine day today?” I asked her.
-I asked her... ....................................................................
7. “He’s not at home”, she said.
-She said that... .................................................................
8. “Is the bus station far away?” the girl asked.
-The girl wanted to know... ..............................................
9. “Don’t stay out late, Ann” Tom said.
-Tom told Ann... ...............................................................
10. “Please let me borrow your car,” he said to her.
-He asked... ........................................................................
11. “Jean, have you seen my gloves?” Thomas asked.
-Thomas asked Jean.....
12. Don’t leave the window open, Mary”, I said.
-I told Mary.... ...................................................................
13. “I’ll have a cup of tea with you,” she said.
She said that...
14. “I’ll pay him if I can” she said.
-She said that... ...................................................................
15. “What are you going to do next summer?” she asked.
- She asked us.... ...................................................................
16. “I’ll phone you tomorrow,” he told Jack.
-He told Jack that.... .............................................................
17. “Can I sit beside you, Jean?” Tom asked.
-Tom asked Jean.... ..............................................................

18. “I want a camera for my birthday,” he said.
-He said that.... ...................................................................
19. “Don’t keep the door locked,” he said to us.
-He told us.... ...................................................................
20. “How long are you going to stay?” I asked him.
-I asked him how long....
21. “Are you going by train?” she asked me.
6


-She wanted to know.... ..................................................
22. “Don’t use too much hot water,” she said to us.
-She asked us.... ..............................................................
23. “Will you come to my party?” she said to me.
-She invited me.... ............................................................
24. “Don’t do it again,” she said to them.
She told them..................................................................
25. “ Did Mr Brown send the potatoes to you?” she asked.
-She asked.......................................................................
26. “Don’t get your shoes dirty, boys,” she said.
-She told..........................................................................
27. “What do you want for lunch today, Peter?” Mary asked.
-Mary asked.......................................................................
28. “Can I borrow your typewriter, Janet?” asked Peter.
- Peter asked if .......................................................................
29. “Why didn’t I get a computer before?” thought the office manager.
-The office manager wondered............................................................
30. “You had better not lend him any more money, Elizabeth,’’ said John.
-John advised Elizabeth........................................................................
31. “You stole my best cassette, Amanda!” said John.

-John accused.......................................................................................
32. “ You damaged my bicycle, John!” said Mary.
-Mary accused......................................................................................
33. “When was your little boy born?” said the nurse to Mrs. Bingley.
-The nurse asked Mrs. Bingley...............................................................
34. “You should take more exercise, Mr. Robert,” the doctor said.
-The doctor advised................................................................................
35. “Will I find a job?”, Tim said to himself.
-Tim wondered.......................................................................................
36. “I’m sorry I gave you the wrong number,” said Paul to Susan.
-Paul apologized.....................................................................................
37. “When is the first day of your holiday, Peter?” Martha asked.
- Martha asked Peter when.....................................................................
38. “Can I have a new bicycle?” said Anna to her mother.
-Anna asked............................................................................................
39.. “Don’t leave the house until I get back, William”, his mother said.
- William’s mother told..........................................................................
40. “Don’t bite your nails,” said Mrs. Rogers to her son.
-Mrs. Rogers told....... .............................................................................
41. “I’ve seen the film three times, Mary” said George.
-George said............................................................................................
42. “I’m sorry, Angela,” said Martin, “I’m afraid I’ve damaged your car.
-Martin apologized..................................................................................
43. “Have you had enough for lunch?” the landlady asked us.
-The landlady asked................................................................................
7


44. “ John, please don’t tell anyone my new address,” said Mary.
-Mary asked............................................................................................

45. “Breakfast will not be served after 9. 30” said the notice.
-The notice said that..............................................................................
46. “Where is the best place to buy souvenirs?”
-I asked..................................................................................................
47. “Don’t forget to bring your passport with you tomorrow”
- She reminded me ................................................................................
48. “Do not write on the wall,” said the teacher to the boys.
-The teacher told the boys………………………………………..........
49. “How many jobs have you had since 2000?” the interviewer asked Mr. Simpson.
- The interviewer asked ...........................................................................
50. “Why didn’t you report the incident to the police?” the officer asked the frightened witness.
- The officer wanted to know...................................................................
Exercise 1:Rewrite following sentences so that the meaning stay the same.
1.”If I were you, I wouldn’t buy this car”
-> He advised............................................................................................
2.”Shall I carry your suitcase, Lan?”said Nam.
-> Nam offered...........................................................................................
3.”Yes,all right, I’ll share the food with you, Dave.”
-> Ann agreed.............................................................................................
4.”Sue,can you remember to buy some bread?”
-> Paul reminded.........................................................................................
5.”Don’t touch anything in this room”, the man said to the children.
-> The man ordered.....................................................................................
6.”I must go home to make the dinner”, said Mary.
-> Mary.........................................................................................................
7.”Are you going to Ho Chi Minh City next week?”Tom asked me.
-> Tom asked...............................................................................................
8.”Have you finished your homework?”Mom asked.
-> Mom asked if...........................................................................................
9.She said to me:”I can’t do it by myself”

-> She told me that.........................................................................................
10.”Does your brother live in London, Nam?” Lan asked.
-> Lan wanted to know if...............................................................................
11.”Don’t repeat this mistake again.” his father warned him.
-> His father warned him................................................................................
12.”Give me a smile,” The photographer said to me.
-> The...............................................................................................................
13.”Don’t leave these book on the table”,the librarian said to the students.
-> The librarian told the students.....................................................................
14.”Have you travelled abroad much?”he asked me.
-> He...............................................................................................................
15.”Who has written this note?” the boss asked the secretary.
8


-> The boss asked............................................................................................
16.”I have just received a postcard from my sister,” my friend said to me.
-> My friend told me.......................................................................................
17.”This story happened long ago” he said.
-> He said.........................................................................................................
Exercise 2
1 "Don't repeat this mistake again!" the instructor warned the sportsman.
.............................................................................................................................................
2 "Leave your address with the secretary," the assistant said to me.
............................................................................................................................................
3 "Phone to me for an answer tomorrow” the manager said to the client.
...........................................................................................................................................
4 "Don't be so silly," the father said to the kid.
...........................................................................................................................................
5 "Give a smile," the photographer said to me.

........................................................................................................................................
6 "Please, help me to make a decision," Ann asked her friend.
............................................................................................................................................
7 "Don't leave these books on the table, put them back on the shelf," the librarian said to the
student.
..........................................................................................................................................
8 "Be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes," the nurse said to the child.
.............................................................................................................................................
9 "Leave your things here," my companion advised me.
.............................................................................................................................................
10 "Don't discuss this question now," said the chairman to the participants.
..........................................................................................................................................
Exercise 3
1 "Will it be safe to stay in the mountains for the night if the weather doesn't change for the
better?" we asked the guide.
...........................................................................................................................................
2 The porter said to me, "I'll wake you up, when the train arrives in Leeds."
.............................................................................................................................................
3 My wife said to me: "While you are away, I'll do the packing."
..........................................................................................................................................
4 "Don't leave until I phone you," he asked me.
...........................................................................................................................................
5 "After he leaves hospital, they'll take him to the South," the doctor said.
..........................................................................................................................................
6 "They'll wait for the fisherman to return until it gets dark," the local man explained to me.
..........................................................................................................................................
7 As soon as I hear from him, I'll let you know," my neighbour said to me.
9

............................................................................................................................................
8 I’ll live in town till my husband returns from the expedition and when he returns, we'll go to the
seaside together," she said.
..........................................................................................................................................
9 The mother said to her son, ."Sit still, please."
.............................................................................................................................................
10 John said to his friend, "Come and spend a week with us."
..........................................................................................................................................
Exercise 4
1 "Have you travelled abroad much?" he asked me.
.....................................................................................................................................
2 "Who has written this note?" the boss asked the secretary.
.......................................................................................................................................
3 "I've just received a postcard from my sister," my friend said to me.
...........................................................................................................................................
4 "The students also took part in arranging the conference," the chair¬man said.
............................................................................................................................................
5 "Have you been here long?" the stranger asked me.
.............................................................................................................................................
6 "Did you really see this happen with your own eyes?" the policeman asked the boy.
...........................................................................................................................................
7 "I hope they will have taken a decision by the end of the meeting," she remarked.
..........................................................................................................................................
8 "Did you watch the detective film on TV yesterday?" he asked her.
.............................................................................................................................................
9 "This story happened long ago," he said, "and few people remember anything about it."
........................................................................................................................................
10 "I haven't read so interesting a book since I don't remember when," she said.
.........................................................................................................................................
Exercise 5

1 Tom said to the girl: "When did you have this picture taken?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
2 "Shall we go somewhere for a cup of coffee after class?" Tom said.
……………………………………………………………………………….
3 John said to Mary, "Why don't you wear your hair a little longer."
……………………………………………………………………………….
4 "Would you like another cup of tea?" the landlady said to the guest.
……………………………………………………………………………….
5 My sister said to me, "What about going to see Aunt Mary on Sunday?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
6 She asked me, "Have you ever seen a flying saucer?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
7 James said: "Do you want me to type this letter for you?"
10


……………………………………………………………………………….
8 Alfred said to John, "I didn't use your cassette player! Someone else did, not me."
……………………………………………………………………………….
9 Father said, "I was the superintendent while this school was being built."
……………………………………………………………………………….
10 The woman said, "If I had a gas stove, it would save me a lot of time."
……………………………………………………………………………….
Exercise 6
1 Jane said to Bill, “When do you expect to finish your assignment?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
2 The man said to the boy: "Can you show me the way to the bank?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
3 Fred asked the postman: "Are there any letters for me today?"
……………………………………………………………………………….

4 Henry said to the librarian, "How many books can I borrow at a time?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
5 John asked his friend, "How did you manage to know my phone number?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
6 “These old buildings might have already disappeared by the time I am back next year?" he said.
……………………………………………………………………………….
7 The boys said to the old woman: "What can we do to help you?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
8 The guests said to the doorman: "Where should we leave our coats?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
9 Tom asked his brother: "Why did you advise them to go sight-seeing on foot?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
10 I asked the children: "Who took away the magazines from my desk?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
Exercise 7
1 Rose said, "I was just leaving the office when I came face to face with a stranger."
……………………………………………………………………………….
2 Ann asked her brother, "Do you expect to be admitted to the university?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
3 Richard asked Jane, "What are you planning to do tomorrow?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
4 She asked her boy friend "Is it true that your father fought in the last war?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
5 Jane said to me, "Where have you been all this time?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
6 Mary said to her husband, "Did you see my handbag anywhere?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
7 The inspector said to the woman, "What were you doing at 7 o'clock yesterday evening?"
11

……………………………………………………………………………….
8 The passenger said to the taxi-driver: "Hurry up!" and he added "I must be at the station on
time."
……………………………………………………………………………….
9 Tom said to himself: "Why I haven't thought of this before?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
10 Father said: "The taxi is coming now. Is everyone ready?"
……………………………………………………………………………….
Exercise 8
1 Helen said, "I think I'll have to find a better job. I can't make both ends meet."
……………………………………………………………………………….
2 He said to her "Why are you so late? I've been waiting for half an hour already."
……………………………………………………………………………….
3 She said to him: "Don't let them down. I'll be very embarrassed if you go back on your words."
……………………………………………………………………………….
4 She said to her husband: "You'd better not drink top much. You may lose control of the car and
have a bad accident."
……………………………………………………………………………….
5 The boy said to his mother: "When shall we have lunch? I'm very hungry."
……………………………………………………………………………….
6 He said, "I don't understand why she has refused to join us on the trip."
……………………………………………………………………………….
7 She said to him, "I'm glad you've come. Sit down, please."
……………………………………………………………………………….
8 Mr. Bean said to his wife, "I don't feel like going out this evening. Let's ask the Browns to come
over for a chat."
……………………………………………………………………………….
9 “It's raining too hard to go out. We'd better stay home tonight and watch TV instead." John said.
……………………………………………………………………………….

10 "Could you ring up the station and find out when the train comes in?" said Tom to me.
……………………………………………………………………………….
Exercise 9
1 "Be careful. Don't go too near the edge of the cliff," she said to the boys.
……………………………………………………………………………….
2 "Please, please come to help me with the assignment," my friend said to me.
……………………………………………………………………………….
3 "I wouldn't buy that sort of raincoat if I were you," my friend said to me.
……………………………………………………………………………….
4 "Would you mind moving your bicycle?" said the janitor. "It's in the way."
……………………………………………………………………………….
5 "Could I take out another book, please," I said to the librarian.
……………………………………………………………………………….
6 "Remember to leave the window open when you're using the gas stove," my mother said to me.
12


……………………………………………………………………………….
7 "Wear your school badge or they won't let you into the classroom." my teacher said to me.
……………………………………………………………………………….
8 "Would you like to come over to my house for a slide show?" my
friend said to me.
……………………………………………………………………………….
9 "Show me your driver's licence, will you?" the policeman said to the drunken driver.
……………………………………………………………………………….
10 "Do come again next weekend," the host said to the visitor.
…………………………………………………………………………

13