REPORTED SPEECH ( also called INDIRECT SPEECH)

( CÂU TƯỜNG THUẬT – CÂU NÓI GIÁN TIẾP)

Khi chúng ta thuật lại những điều mà người nào đó đã nói bằng cách lặp lại nguyên văn lời
của người nói thì câu nói đó được gọi là câu nói trực tiếp. Khi chúng ta không cần hoàn
không muốn lặp lại nguyên văn lời của người nói và thay vào đó là cách diễn đạt bằng lời nói
của mình thì câu nói đó được gọi là câu gián tiếp ( Indirect Speech) hay còn gọi là câu tường
thuật ( Reported Speech)

report (n) bài tường thuật

A. Khi đổi một câu nói trực tiếp sang câu nói gián tiếp, ta phải đổi 3 yếu tố sau ( nếu cần
thiết):
1) Changing the tense : Đổi thì (Áp dụng quy tắc lùi thì)
Present simple: Hiện tại đơn Past simple: Quá khứ đơn
Present progressive: Hiện tại tiếp diễn Past Continuous: Quá khứ tiếp diễn
Past simple: Quá khứ đơn Past simple/Past perfect: Quá khứ đơn/ Quá
khứ hoàn thành
Past continuous: Quá khứ tiếp diễn Past Continuous/Past perfect Continuous:
Quá khứ tiếp diễn/ Quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp
diễn
Present perfect: Hiện tại hoàn thành Past perfect: Quá khứ hoàn thành
Past perfect: Quá khứ hoàn thành Past perfect: Quá khứ hoàn thành
Am/is/are going to: Was/were going to

Can Could
Will Would
Shall Would/ should ( tùy theo tình huống)
Must Had to/ must

Ex: Lan said, "I want to go home"

Lan said (that) she wanted to go home.

@ Note: Không phải trong câu tường thuật nào ta cũng biến đổi thì. Vậy khi nào ta mới đổi
thì của câu?
Nếu câu nói đó vẫn còn cập nhật hoặc câu nói đó nói về một điều luôn đúng ( thường là được
khoa học chứng minh) thì chúng ta có thể có hai cách sau: đổi thì hoặc giữ nguyên thì (Giữ
nguyên thì mang tính cập nhật hơn).
Ex1 : Sáng nay bạn gặp Lan. Bạn có cuộc nói chuyện với cô ấy như sau:
You: How do you feel now, Lan?
Lan: I'm very tired. I will not go to the party tonight.
Sau đó một tiếng, bạn gặp Phong và thuật lại cho Phong nghe những điều mà Lan đã nói với
bạn.
1st way  Lan told/tells me(that) she was very tired and she wouldn't go to the party
tonight.
2nd way  Lan said/says she is very tired and she will not go to the party tonight.
Ex2: Our teacher said that the Earth goes round the sun.
Ex3: Sarah told us she is going to Rome in April. (Now It is March)
Nếu câu nói đó không còn cập nhật thì chúng ta phải đổi thì :
Ex4: Sarah told us she was going to Rome in April. (Now it is May)
2) Changing the time and the place if necessary: Đối các từ chỉ thời gian và nơi chốn (nếu cần
thiết)

Here There
This (singular) That (singular)
These (plural) Those (plural)
Now Then
Today That day
Tonight That night
Yesterday The day before/ the previous day
Last week/month/year The week/month/year before,
or The previous week/month/year
An hour ago An hour before/earlier
Two hours ago 2 hours before/earlier
10 hours ago 10 hours before/earlier
2 days ago 2 days before/earlier
5 months ago 5 months before/earlier
Tomorrow The next day, the following day, the day after
The day after tomorrow In two day’s time, two days after

Next week/month/year The next week/month/year

or The following week/month/year
Ex1: The boss told me," You can leave here tonight”
The boss told me (that) I could leave there that night

Ex2: Minh said to us," I like this book so much."

Minh told us that he liked this/that book so much.

3) Changing the subject, object and possessive form : Đổi S, O và các hình thức sở hữu.
ex1: Hoa asked them" Where are you and your son going now?
Hoa asked them where they and their son were going then.

ex2: The boy asked me, "Did you call me last night?"
The boy asked me if/ whether I called/had called him the night before.
B. Mỗi loại câu có cách tưởng thuật khác nhau. Vì vậy chúng ta cần xác định loại câu của
câu nói trực tiếp trước rồi mới đổi sang cấu nói gián tiếp.
1)Statements (câu kể):
Đối với loại câu này, ta thường dùng các động từ tưởng thuật như: say, tell, hope (hi vọng)...
+ Ta dùng “tell" khi ta muốn đề cập đến người nghe (tức là người được nói với). Vì vậy, ngay
sau "tell” luôn phải có tân ngữ chỉ người (trong trường hợp này).
Ex: Peter's father told us (that) we could use his car.

+Ta dùng "say" khi muốn đề cập đến người nói. Vì vậy, ngay sau "say" ta không dùng tân
ngữ chỉ người mà ta dùng That-clause.
Ex1: Peter's father said (that) we could use his car

Ex2: Mr Pike told us, "I am your new teacher."

Mr Pike told us (that) he was my new teacher.
Ex3: The students said to me," We don't know what to do now”
The students said (that) they didn’t know what to do then

Ex4: I told us, "I hope the boy came home in time"
I hoped (that) the boy had come in time
in time: vừa kịp, không quá muộn
on time: đúng giờ

S + said/ told/ hoped (SO) + (that) + clause

1. “I’ll have a cup of tea with you.” she said.

- She said that SHE WOULD HAVE A CUP OF TEA WITH ME
2.“I’ll pay him if I can.” she said.
- She said that SHE WOULD PAY HIM IF SHE COULD.
3. “I’ll phone you tomorrow.” he told Jack.
- He told Jack that he would phone Jack the next day.
 “I’ll phone you tomorrow.” Jack told him.
Jack told him he would call him tomorrow
4. “He’s not at home.”, she said.
(Cô ấy nói Anh ta không có ở nhà CÔ ấy nói rằng là anh ta không ở nhà)
- She said that he wasn’t at home
5. “I want a camera for my birthday.” he said.
Anh ta nói: Tôi muốn 1 cái camera cho sinh nhật tôi Anh ta nói: Anh ta muốn 1 cái camera
cho sinh nhật anh ấy
- He said that he wanted a camera for his birthday.
6. “I’ve (I have) seen the film three times, Mary.” said George.
George nói: Tớ đã xem bộ phim này 3 lần rồi, Mary
George nói Geor ge đã xem bộ phim này 3 lần rồi, Mary
- George said he had seen the the film three times, Mary.
7. “I’m sure she will help you if you ask her.”, he told me.
Anh ta nói với tôi: Tôi chắc chắn rằng là cô ấy sẽ giúp bạn nếu bạn hỏi cô ấy.
Anh ta nói với tôi anh ta chắc chắn rằng cô ấy sẽ giúp tôi nếu tôi hỏi cô ấy
He told me he was sure that she would help me if I asked her.
8. “I will be surprised if Mary doesn’t pass the exam.”, our teacher said.
Cô giáo nói: Cô sẽ rất ngạc nhiên nếu Mary không đậu kì thi
Our teacher said she would be surprised if Mary didn’t pass the exam.
9 .“We went out last night”
She told me they went out the night before
10. “I’m coming!”
She said she was coming

1. “I was waiting for the bus when he arrived”

She told me she was waiting for the bus when he arrived
(Cô ấy nói cô ấy đang đợi xe buýt thì anh ta đến)________
2. “ I’d never been there before”
She said she had never been there before
3. “I didn’t go to the party” She told me
She told me she didn’t go to the party.
4. “Lucy’ll come later”
She said _______________________________________________
5. “He hasn’t eaten breakfast”
She told me ___________________________________________
6. “I can help you tomorrow”
She said ______________________________________________
7. “You should go to bed early”
She told me ____________________________________________
8. “I don’t like chocolate”
She told me ___________________________________________
9. “I won’t see you tomorrow”
She said _____________________________________________
10. “She’s living in Paris for a few months”
She said _______________________________________________
11. “I visited my parents at the weekend”
She told me ____________________________________________
12. “She hasn’t eaten sushi before”
She said _______________________________________________
13. “I hadn’t travelled by underground before I came to London”
She said _______________________________________________
14. “They would help if they could”
She said ________________________________________________
15. “I’ll do the washing-up later”
She told me ____________________________________________
16. “He could read when he was three”
She said _______________________________________________
17. “I was sleeping when Julie called”
She said ________________________________________________

2) Yes-No questions ( câu hỏi có hay không)

Đối với câu hỏi Yes-No, ta thường dùng các động từ tưởng thuật như: ask, want to know,
wonder ...
Khi thuật lại câu hỏi Yes- No, ta phải sử dụng "if/whether: có hay không”
Ex1: He asked her "Do you go to school with your friends ?"
He asked her ………………………………………………………………

Ex2: The man asked me "Don't you take a bus to work today?"
The man asked me………………………………………………………………

Ex3: She wondered, "Did Tom come yesterday?"

She wondered………………………………………………………………

S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered (SO) + if/whether + clause….

3)WH-questions ( câu hỏi có từ để hỏi)

Đối với WH-quetions, ta cũng thường dùng các động từ tường thuật như ask, want to know,
wonder ...
Ex1: "Where are you from ?" I said to the girl.
 I asked the girl ………………………………………………………………

Ex2: "Why did he wait for me here?" asked she.

She wanted to know why he had waited for her there

Ex3: They asked," Where can we eat now?

They wondered where they could eat then.

S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered + (SO) + QW + clause

@ Note : Khi ta muốn hỏi thăm về một thông tin nào đó, ta thường dùng câu hỏi gián tiếp
sau các cụm như: Could you tell me...?; Do you know...?; Have you got any ideas...?
Ex1: Could you tell me what time the concert starts?

Ex2: Do you khow where he was born?

Ex3: Have you got any ideas how the president should apologise ?

4) Requests, Orders and Advice and others (câu đề nghị, câu mệnh lệnh, câu khuyên bảo và
các mẫu khác)
4.1) Đối với các loại cầu đề nghị, câu mệnh lệnh, câu khuyên bảo, ta thường dùng các động
từ tường thuật như: ask (đề nghị), tell (bảo), want (muốn), advise (khuyên), persuade
(thuyết phục), encourage (khuyến khích), remind (nhắc để nhớ), order (ra lệnh), warn
(khuyên, căn dặn, cảnh báo), forbid (cấm), urge (nài nỉ, thúc dục), beg (khẩn cầu, van
xin) . Các động từ tường thuật trên được dùng theo mẫu sau:

S + Vtường thuật + SO + (not) to do sth

Ex1: Sarah said, “ Please wait a minute, Tom” order

Sarah said, "Will you wait a minute, Tom?"  request
Sarah said, "Tom, Could you wait a minute, please ?"  request
Ta thuật lại 3 câu trên như sau: Sarah aked/told/ begged Tom to wait a minute.

ex2: “Go away now” order

 He ordered me/her/him to go away then.

ex3: "Don't move. Put your hands up." order

 The police ordered her not to move and put her hands up.

ex4: "You should stop smoking, Tom."  advice

 She advised Tom to stop smoking

@ Note : ta không dùng “say" theo cấu trúc trên: She said him to work harder
Ta phải nói/viết như sau : She said (that) he should work harder

4.2) Đối với các mẫu câu khác, ta phải nắm rõ cấu trúc của từng loại động từ tường thuật.
1. Thank SO for (doing) Sth:
…………………………………………………………………….
2. Congratulate SO on (doing) Sth: …………………………………………………………….
3. Apologise (to SO) for (doing) Sth: …………………………………………………………..
4. Insist on (doing) Sth : ……………………………………………………………………….
5. Accuse SO of (doing) Sth: …………………………………………………………………..
6. Dream of (doing) Sth: ……………………………………………………………………….
7 Wam SO about/against (doing) Sth : …………………………………………………………
8. Prevent/Stop SO from (doing) Sth: ………………………………………………………….
9. Admit doing Sth: ……………………………………………………………………………
10. Suggest doing Sth: ………………………………………………………………………….
11. Think of/ about (doing) Sth: ………………………………………………………………

Ex1: "What a beautiful gift! Thank you," Rose said to Peter.

→ Rose thanked………………………………………………………………………………...
Ex2: "I hear you won the game. Congratulations!" Mr Pike said to us.
→Mr Pike
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Ex3: "Sorry I'm late”, she said.
→ She …………………………………………………………………………………………
Ex4: "I'll give you a lift to the airport. I insist”, The man said to the young girl
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ex5:" You stole my wallet," She said to the boy.
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ex6: The little girl said "I've always wanted to be a famous movie star like Marylin Monroe."
 The little girl dreamed
dream – dreamed/ dreamt - dreamed/ dreamt
Ex7: They said to us" Don't talk to strangers here. It's so dangerous."
→They warned us against/ about talking to strangers here because It was so dangerous
Ex8: "Stay there! You mustn't go out in the evening." His mother said to him.
His mother prevented/ stopped him from going out in the evening.

* PRACTICE:
Change into the reported speech
1) "I have finished studying my lesson", said the schoolboy.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

2) Tom said "I cannot go to the show tonight because my family is going to visit my sick
friend".
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

3) Mrs Young says "I'm very tired".

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

4) William said, "I won't visit her again.”

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

5) Linda says "I usually get up much earlier than you do, Minh."
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………
6) "Did you phone me yesterday?" Mr Pike asked me.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

7) They asked her, "Have you read this book?

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

8) They asked us "May we smoke here in this room?"

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

9) "I didn't know them-Did you, Dave?" She asked.

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

10) Do you like this?"- "Yes"

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

11) "I'd buy the big tin if I were you", said the grocer.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

12)I said to the litle girl," Why are you crying?”

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

13) His mother said to him, "Where did you put it three days ago?"
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

14) Bill says to me "Where will he go tomorrow?"

→ ………………………………………………………………………………………………

15) The traveller asked "How long does it take to get to Phu Quoc Island by plane?

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

16) "Where did you pick your son up last night?", Mary said to him.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

17) "Listen carefully, Peter", he said

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

18) "Don't wait for me if I'm late", Ann said to him

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

19) "Shut the door but don't lock it", said the man.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

20) “ Please help us”, they said to us.

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

21) “Avoid the Marble Arch: said the policeman.” There’s going to a big demonstration
there”
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………
22) The doctor said "Stay out of crowds and don't forget to take medicines".
→ ………………………………………………………………………………………………

23)" Can you dig the garden, please, Travor?" said the old woman
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

24) His boss said to him" Would you mind turning off the air-conditioner?
→ ………………………………………………………………………………………………

25) "Would you like to stay for lunch, Claire?", Sarah said. (invite)
→………………………………………………………………………………………………

26) "All right, I won't talk about football", Tom said. (agree) 
………………………………………………………………………………………………

27) Matthew said, "You ought to take a break, Andrew." (advise)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

28) Mike said, "I'm sorry. I was rude." (apologise)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

29) "Yes. I made a mistake.", said I. (admit

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

30)"Don't forget to post the letter, Vicky", He said. (remind)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

31) Laura! Don't touch the electric wire!". Bill said. (warm)
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

32) "I really must leave", Bruce said to me (insist)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

33) We said "We'll pay for the damage." (offer)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

34) "I'll definitely finish it by the end of next week", said the man. (promise) 
………………………………………………………………………………………………

35) "Shall we go to a nightclub?", Jones said. (suggest)

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Correct the sentences and change them into direct speech.

1) Robert wanted to know if did the price included breakfast

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

2) Anna insisted on show us her photos. I bet show you my photo. I insist
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

3) Someone asked us whether that we had eaten lunch.

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………
4) Nigel said me he wanted to come with us

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

5) My friend said she did liked her new flat.

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

6) Martin tolds us to not wake the baby.

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

7) They say they needed more time.

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………