Khi muốn thuật lại lời nói của ai đó, bạn sẽ cần dùng đến câu tường thuật. Trong tiếng Anh họ phân ra câu trực tiếp và gián tiếp với cách chuyển ngữ pháp khác nhau như dưới đây.
Câu gián tiếp [hay còn gọi là câu tường thuật] được sử dụng để thuật lại một sự việc hoặc một lời nói của ai đó.
Quy tắc sử dụng câu gián tiếp
Trong tiếng Anh, khi muốn chuyển câu trực tiếp thành câu gián tiếp, chúng ta cần lùi thì của động từ, đổi đại từ nhân xưng, đại từ, tính từ sở hữu, tân ngữ và đổi trạng từ chỉ nơi chốn, thời gian.
Lùi thì của động từ:
Sự việc được tường thuật trong câu gián tiếp thường không xảy ra tại thời điểm nói. Do đó, khi chuyển câu trực tiếp thành câu gián tiếp, động từ cần được lùi 1 thì về quá khứ so với thì của thời điểm nói.
Câu trực tiếp
Câu gián tiếp
Hiện tại đơn
Quá khứ đơn
Hiện tại tiếp diễn
Quá khứ tiếp diễn
Hiện tại hoàn thành
Quá khứ hoàn thành
Hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn
Quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp diễn
Quá khứ đơn
Quá khứ hoàn thành
Quá khứ tiếp diễn
Quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp diễn
Quá khứ hoàn thành
Quá khứ hoàn thành
Quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp diễn
Quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp diễn
Tương lai đơn
Tương lai đơn trong quá khứ [would]
Tương lai gần
was/ were going to V
Tương lai tiếp diễn
Tương lai tiếp diễn trong quá khứ [would be Ving]
Tương lai hoàn thành
Tương lai hoàn thành trong quá khứ [would have PII]
shall/ can/ may
should/ could/ might
should/ could/ might/ must/ would
Giữ nguyên
LƯU Ý
Có 1 số trường hợp không thể thực hiện lùi thì khi chuyển từ câu trực tiếp sang câu gián tiếp trong tiếng Anh:
- Nếu động từ tường thuật chia ở thì hiện tại, khi chuyển từ câu trực tiếp sang câu gián tiếp, động từ chính và các trạng từ chỉ nơi chốn/ thời gian được giữ nguyên không đổi
Ví dụ: My sister says: “I’m going to the supermarket.”
→ My sister says she is going to the supermarket.
- Nếu diễn tả một sự thật hiển nhiên
Ví dụ: He said: “The Sun sets in the West.”
→ He said that the Sun sets in the West.
- Câu điều kiện loại II và loại III
Ví dụ: “If I were you, I would not say that.” she said
→ She said that is she were me, she would not say that.
- Cấu trúc “Wish + quá khứ đơn/ quá khứ hoàn thành”
Ví dụ: “I wished I lived in Berlin.” Jane said.
→ Jane said she wished she lived in Berlin.
- Cấu trúc “It’s time somebody did something”
Ví dụ: “It’s time he did the washing-up.” his mother said.
→ His mother said it was time he did the washing-up.
Đổi đại từ nhân xưng, đại từ, tính từ sở hữu, đổi tân ngữ
Khi chuyển từ câu trực tiếp sang câu gián tiếp, ta cần lưu ý đổi đại từ nhân xưng, đại từ, tính từ sở hữu và tân ngữ cho phù hợp với ngữ nghĩa và hoàn cảnh.
Câu trực tiếp
Câu gián tiếp
Đại từ nhân xưng
I
he, she
you
I, he, she, they
we
they
Tính từ sở hữu
my
his, her
our
their
your
our, their
Đại từ sở hữu
mine
his, hers
yours
ours, mine, theirs
ours
theirs
Tân ngữ
me
him, her
us
them
you
me, us
Đại từ phản thân
myself
himself, herself
yourself
himself, herself, myself
ourselves
themselves
Đổi trạng từ chỉ nơi chốn, thời gian
Trong câu gián tiếp, sự việc không xảy ra tại thời điểm hay địa điểm mà người nói tường thuật. Do đó, khi chuyển từ câu trực tiếp sang câu gián tiếp, cần chú ý đổi trạng từ chỉ thời gian, nơi chốn. Cụ thể:
Câu trực tiếp
Câu gián tiếp
here
there
now
then
yesterday
the day before
tomorrow
the day after
today/ tonight
that day/ that night
ago
before
next …
the following …
last …
the previous …
this
that
these
those
REPORTED SPEECH [Câu gián tiếp]
Dạng câu trực tiếp
Cấu trúc câu gián tiếp
Ví dụ
Câu kể
S + say[s]/ said/ tell/ told + [that] + S + V …
He said to me: “I’m going to the party.” → He told me that he was going to the party.
Câu hỏi Yes/No
S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered + if/whether + S + V …
“Are you hungry?” my friend asked me. → My friend asked me if I was hungry.
Câu hỏi có từ để hỏi Wh-
S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered + Wh + S + V …
“What is Andy doing?” Jim asked
→ Jim wanted to know what Andy was doing.
Câu mệnh lệnh/ yêu cầu
S + asked/ told/ demanded,… [+O] + [not] to V …
“Don’t smoke here.” my father told Pete. → My father told Pete not to smoke there.
Câu cảm thán
S + exclaimed/ said + that + S + V …
“What a beautiful picture!” said Emma. → Emma exclaimed that the picture was beautiful.
Câu đề nghị
S + suggested [+ O] + [not] V-ing …
“Why don’t you send her an email?” said Tim. → Tin suggested me sending her an email.
Dạng câu trục tiếp là câu kể thì cấu trúc câu gián tiếp là: S + say[s]/ said/ tell/ told + [that] + S + V …
Ví dụ:
He said to me: “I’m going to the party.” → He told me that he was going to the party.
Dạng câu trực tiếp là câu hỏi Yes/No thì cấu trúc câu gián tiếp là: S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered + if/whether + S + V …
Ví dụ:
“Are you hungry?” my friend asked me. → My friend asked me if I was hungry.
Dạng câu trực tiếp là câu hỏi Yes/No thì cấu trúc câu gián tiếp là: S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered + Wh + S + V …
Ví dụ:
“What is Andy doing?” Jim asked
→ Jim wanted to know what Andy was doing.
Dạng câu trực tiếp là Câu mệnh lệnh/ yêu cầu thì cấu trúc câu gián tiếp là: S + asked/ told/ demanded,… [+O] + [not] to V …
Ví dụ:
“Don’t smoke here.” my father told Pete.
→ My father told Pete not to smoke there.
Dạng câu trực tiếp là câu cảm thán thì cấu trúc câu gián tiếp là: S + exclaimed/ said + that + S + V …
Ví dụ:
“What a beautiful picture!” said Emma. → Emma exclaimed that the picture was beautiful.
Dạng câu trực tiếp là câu đề nghị thì cấu trúc câu gián tiếp là: S + suggested [+ O] + [not] V-ing …
Ví dụ:
“Why don’t you send her an email?” said Tim.
→ Tin suggested me sending her an email.
Một số trường hợp đặc biệt khác khi chuyển câu từ trực tiếp sang gián tiếp:
- Cấu trúc S + V + O + N/ V-ing
Ví dụ: “Sorry I’m late” said Mindy. → Mindy apologized for being late.
She said: “John broke the vase.” → She accused John of breaking the vase.
- Cấu trúc S + V + to V
Ví dụ: “I will call you when I arrive.” Tim said. → Tim promised to call me when he arrived.
- Câu mời, đề nghị lịch sự
Ví dụ: “Shall I pick you up at the airport?” said my brother. → My brother offered to pick me up at the airport.
Một số động từ thường được sử dụng trong câu gián tiếp: say [nói], tell [kể], ask [hỏi], admit [thừa nhận], deny [phủ nhận], claim [khẳng định], promise [hứa], accuse [buộc tội], apologize [xin lỗi], suggest [gợi ý], warn [cảnh báo] …
Các bạn cùng xem lại kiến thức, bài tập của các dạng câu quan trọng:
- Câu điều kiện - tất tần tật kiến thức và bài tập chi tiết
- Câu bị động - kiến thức và tổng ôn bài tập chi tiết
- Mệnh đề quan hệ - Kiến thức và bài tập có đáp án
Bài tập câu tường thuật
Exercise 1: Chuyển các câu sau về dạng câu trần thuật
1. “If the weather is fine, I will go on a picnic with my friends,” she said.
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2. “What would you do if you had three days off ?” I asked him.
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3. “I would have come to see you if I had known your address, Jim” she said.
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4. “I’m sure she will help you if you ask her.” , he told me.
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5. “If Today were Sunday, we wouldn’t go to school.” They said to me.
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6. She said to me, “If I were you, I wouldn’t tell her about this.”
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7. “There would not be enough seats if a lot of guests came.”, they said.
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8. “You will be surprised if you meet him.” , Peter said to Linda.
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9.The boy said : “I won’t be strong if I don’t swim everyday.”
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10. “What would you do if you saw a snake ?” Nam asked Nga.
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11. “We’ll have lunch outside in the garden if it’s not cold.” ,Mr John said.
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12. “Tom would win more races if he trained hard.” , The man said.
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13. “If you feel like a chat, phone me tonight.” David said to me.
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14. “If you isn’t eating so much junk food, you would be a lot fitter.” Mother said.
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15. “I will be surprised if Mary doesn’t pass the exam.” , our teacher said.
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16. “If I knew her hobbies, I could let you know.” He said to me.
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17. “If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car.” , the man said.
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18. “If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn’t have made such a big mistakes.”
Julia said to LiLi.
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Exercise 2: Chọn đáp án đúng nhất.
1. Jack asked me _____.
- where do you come from? B. where I came from
- where I came from D. where did I come from?
2. She asked me _____ I liked pop music.
A.when B.what C.if D.x
3. The doctor ____ him to take more exercise.
A.told B.tell C. have told D. are telling
4. I wanted to know_____ return home.
- when would she B. when will she C. when she will D. when she would
5. Claire told me that her father____ a race horse.
- owned B. owns C. owning D. A and B
6. What did that man say ______?
- at you B. for you C. to you D. you
7. I rang my friend in Australia yesterday, and she said it _______ raining there.
- is B. were C. has been D. was
8. The builders have ______ that everything will be ready on time.
- promised B. promise C. promises D. promising
9. The doctor _______ him to take more exercise.
- told B. tell C. have told D. are telling
10. The last time I saw Linda, she looked very relaxed. She explained she’d been on holiday the ______ week.
- ago B. following C. next D. previous
11. Yesterday, Laura ______ him to put some shelves up.
- asked B. is asking C. ask D. was asked
12. Tom has ______ this story wasn’t completely true.
- admitting that B. was admitted that C. admitted that D. admit that
13. When I rang Tessa some time last week, she said she was busy ______ day.
- that B. the C. then D. this
14. I wonder _____ the tickets are on sale yet.
- what B. when C. where D. whether
15. Mathew _____ Emma that her train was about to leave.
- has reminded B. has reminded that C. reminded D. reminded that
16. Hello, Jim. I didn’t expect to see you today. Sophie said you _____ ill.
- are B. were C. was D. should be
17. Ann ______ and left.
- said goodbye to me B. says goodbye to me C. tell me goodbye D. told me goodbye
18. I told you ______ switch off the computer, didn’t I ?
- don’t B. not C. not to D. to not
19. Bill was slow, so I ________ hurry up.
- tell him B. told him for C. told to D. told him to
20. Sarah was driving to fast, so I ______ to slow down.
- asked her B. asked C. ask D.have asked her
21. Someone ______ me there’s been an accident on the motorway.
- asked B. said C. spoke D. told
22. Sue was very pessimistic about the situation. I advised her _____.
- no worry B. not worry C. no to worry D. not to worry
23. I couldn’t move the piano alone, so I asked Tom_______.
- giving a hand B. gave a hand C. to give a hand D. give a hand
24. Tom said that New York _______ more lively than London.
- is B. be C. was D. were
25. When he was at Oliver’s flat yesterday, Martin asked if he ______ use the phone.
- can B. could C. may D. must
26. George couldn’t help me. He ______ me to ask Kate.
- tell B. said C. told D. say
27. Judy ______ going for a walk, but no one else wanted to.
A.admitted B. offered C. promised D. suggested
28. I said that I had met her ______ .
- yesterday B. the previous day C. the day D. the before day.
29. The man asked the boys ______ .
- why did they fight B. why they were fighting
- why they fight D.why were they fighting
30. “______the door”, he said.
- please open B. open pleased C. please to open D. please, opening
31. I wanted to know ______ return home.
- when would she B. when will she C. when she will D. when she would
32. The woman wonders _______ doing well at school.
- whether her children are B. if her children were
- whether her children were D. her children are if
33. Peter said he was leaving for Paris ______.
- next week B. the week previous C. following week D. the following week
34. “I don’t usually drink milk when ______ ” Mrs. Pike said.
- she was hungry B. I was hungry C. I am hungry D. I will be
35. They said that their house had been broken into ______.
- the two days before B. two days ago C. two days before D. since two days
ĐÁP ÁN
Exercise 1:
1. She said if the weather was fine, she would go on a picnic with her friends.
2. I asked him what he would do if he had [had] three days off.
3. She told Jim that she would have come if she had known his address.
4. He told me that he was sure she would help if I asked her.
5. They told me if that day were Sunday, they wouldn't go to school
6. She told me that if she were me, she wouldn't tell her about that
7 . They said that there wouldn’t be enough seats if a lot of guests came.
8. Peter told Linda that she would be surprised if she met him.
9. The boy said that he would not be strong if he did not swim everyday.
10. Nam asked Nga what she would do if she saw a snake.
11. Mr John said that they would have lunch outside in the garden if it was not cold.
12. The man said Tom would win more races if he trained hard.
13. David told me to phone him that night if I felt like a chat.
14. My mother told me that I would be a lot fitter if I was not eating so much junk food.
15. Our teacher said that she would be surprised of Mary did not pass the exam.
16. He told me that if he knew her hobbies, he could let me know.
17. The man said that he would buy a new car if he won the lottery.
18. Julia told LilLi that she would not have made such a big mistake if she had listened to Julia’s advice.