Cách dùng câu tường thuật - Reported Speech

The priest said (that) he saw her legs.

We use reported speech when we want to repeat what someone had previously said.

Let's look at the difference between direct speech and reported speech:

Direct Speech - The priest said = 'I see her legs.'

Reported Speech = 'The priest said (that) he saw her legs.'

Trong câu tường thuật chúng ta cần dùng động từ ở thì quá khứ. Như các bạn thấy ở ví dụ trên "see" được đổi thành "saw" khi chúng ta chuyển sang câu tường thuật. Câu tường thuật có nghĩa là ta thuật lại những gì mà người khác đã nói do vậy phải dùng thì quá khứ.

Đổi sang thì quá khứ để tạo câu tường thuật

Đây là một số động từ quan trọng được đổi khi chúng ta dùng câu tường thuật:

am becomes was

Direct John: 'I am going.'
Reported: 'John said that he was going.'

is becomes was

Direct John: 'She is tall.'
Reported: 'John said that she was tall.'

do becomes did

Direct John: 'I always do my homework.'
Reported: 'John said that he always did his homework.'

does becomes did

Direct John: 'My mother does the cleaning.'
Reported: 'John said that his mother did the cleaning.'

have becomes had

Direct John: 'I have your number.'
Reported: 'John said that he had my number.'

has becomes had

Direct John: 'He has caught a cold.'
Reported: 'John said that he had caught a cold.'

go becomes went

Direct John: 'I go shopping on Sunday.'
Reported: 'John said that he went shopping on Sunday.'

will becomes would

Direct John: 'I will call Frank.'
Reported: 'John said that he would call Frank.'

can becomes could

Direct John: 'I can ride a horse.'
Reported: 'John said that he could ride a horse.'

want becomes wanted

Direct John: 'I want a girlfriend.'
Reported: 'John said that he wanted a girlfriend.'

Khi chúng ta không đổi thì của động từ

Khi câu tường thuật dùng thì quá khứ rồi thì chúng ta không cần đổi một lần nữa:

Direct John: 'I broke my arm.'
Reported: 'John said that he broke his arm.'

Nhưng chúng ta cũng có thể đổi thì Quá khứ sang Quá khứ hoàn thành:

Direct John: 'I broke my arm.'
Reported: 'John said that he had broken his arm.'

Dùng câu tường thuật cho câu hỏi

Ở trên chúng ta đã xem câu tường thuật dùng với từ 'said'. Khi có một câu hỏi, chúng ta không dùng 'said', thay vào đó ta dùng 'asked'.
Chúng ta cần phải có từ để hỏi (wh- word) hoặc if / whether.
Hãy xem những ví dụ dưới đây:

Câu hỏi dùng từ để hỏi Wh-

Direct John: 'What is your name?'
Reported: 'John asked me what my name was.'

Direct John: 'Where does she live?'
Reported: 'John asked me where she lived.'

Câu hỏi dùng if / whether

Direct John: 'Does he play golf?'
Reported: 'John asked if he played golf.'
Reported: 'John asked whether he played golf.'

Dùng câu tường thuật để đề nghị

Như bạn đã thấy, 'said' được dùng trong câu khẳng định và 'asked' được dùng cho câu hỏi. Chúng ta sẽ dùng 'told' cho đề nghị và 'to' đứng trước mệnh đề:

Direct John: 'Go home'
Reported: 'John told me to go.'

Direct John: 'Stop crying'
Reported: 'John told me to stop crying.'

Dùng gợi ý trong câu tường thuật - suggestions

Chúng ta cho ai đó lời khuyên trong câu trực tiếp, thì chúng ta sử dụng 'suggested' hoặc 'recommended' trong câu tường thuật:

Direct John: 'You should take a holiday'
Reported: 'John suggested that I took a holiday.'

Direct John: 'You should take a holiday'
Reported: 'John recommended that I took a holiday.'

Với những câu có tính chất mạnh mẽ hơn, chúng ta có thể dùng 'insist' hay 'demand':

Direct John: 'You must see a doctor.'
Reported: 'John insisted that I saw a doctor.'
Reported: 'John demanded that I saw a doctor.'

• 'My brothers are taller than me.'
  
  He said that his brothers were taller than him.
  He said me his brothers were taller than him.
  He told me that his brothers are tall than him.
  He said that brothers are taller than him.
  
  
• 'I will see you soon.'
  
  He said would see me soon.
  He asked if he would see me soon.
  He said he would see me soon.
  He said I will see me soon.
  
  
• 'I have a cold.'
  
  She said had a cold.
  She asked if I had a cold.
  She said has a cold.
  She said that she had a cold.
  
  
• 'I know the way.'
  
  He told me he know the way.
  He said that he knew the way.
  He asked me the way.
  He said he know the way.
  
  
• 'He lost his phone.'
  
  He said that he had lost his phone.
  He said that lost his phone.
  He said he losts his phone.
  He said he has loses his phone.
  
  
• 'Do you want a coffee?'
  
  He asked I wanted a coffee.
  He said if I wanted a coffee.
  He asked if I wanted a coffee.
  He asked if I wants a coffee.
  
  
• 'Are you Simon?'
  
  She asked whether I Simon.
  She asked whether if I was Simon.
  She asked whether I was Simon.
  She asked whether am simon.
  
  
• 'Why do you like Jazz?'
  
  She asked why I liked Jazz.
  She asked if I like Jazz.
  She ask why I like Jazz.
  She asked why I likes Jazz.
  
  
• 'Bring your ball.'
  
  He asked me if I brought my ball.
  He tells me to bring my ball.
  He told me bring a ball.
  He told me to bring my ball.
  
  
• 'You must come to my party.'
  
  She insisted that I came to her party.
  She recommended that I come to her party.
  She said that I come to her party.
  She asked me to come her party.