间接引语(Indirect Speech)是指在英语中,不直接一字不差地引用某人的原话(直接引语),而是用自己的话将原话的内容转述出来。
间接引语:用自己的话转述别人说的话,也叫转述句。
- 直接引语:直接引用原话,外加引号。
- 间接引语:去掉引号,变成从句或不定式结构,在句中多作宾语从句。
在间接引语中,时态、人称、时间状语、地点状语和语序通常需要发生相应的变化。
以下是英语中间接引语的详细分类、例句及中文翻译:
一、 陈述句的间接引语
在间接引语中,陈述句通常由 that 引导(在口语或非正式文体中 that 可省略)。主句动词通常是 say 或 tell(tell 后面必须跟间接宾语)。
时态变化规则:
- 一般现在时 → 一般过去时
- 现在进行时 → 过去进行时
- 现在完成时 → 过去完成时
- 一般过去时 → 过去完成时
- 一般将来时 → 过去将来时 (would)
例句:
- 直接引语: He said, “I am happy.”
间接引语: He said (that) he was happy.
翻译: 他说他很快乐。 - 直接引语: She said, “I have finished the work.”
间接引语: She said (that) she had finished the work.
翻译: 她说她已经完成了工作。 - 直接引语: Tom said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
间接引语: Tom said (that) he would call me the next day.
翻译: 汤姆说他第二天会给我打电话。
二、 疑问句的间接引语
疑问句变为间接引语时,语序要变回陈述句语序(主语在前,动词在后),且句末用句号,不用问号。连接词根据疑问句类型选择。
1. 一般疑问句
连接词用 if 或 whether。
例句:
4. 直接引语: He asked me, “Do you like coffee?”
间接引语: He asked me if I liked coffee.
翻译: 他问我是否喜欢咖啡。
- 直接引语: She asked, “Will you be here tomorrow?”
间接引语: She asked whether I would be there the next day.
翻译: 她问我第二天是否会在那里。
2. 特殊疑问句
连接词用原来的疑问词(what, where, who, when, how 等)。
例句:
6. 直接引语: The policeman asked, “Where did you go last night?”
间接引语: The policeman asked where I had gone the night before.
翻译: 警察问我前一天晚上去了哪里。
- 直接引语: She asked me, “What are you doing?”
间接引语: She asked me what I was doing.
翻译: 她问我在做什么。
三、 祈使句的间接引语
祈使句(命令、请求、建议)变为间接引语时,通常使用 “tell/ask/order/advise + 宾语 + 动词不定式 (to do)” 的结构。
例句:
8. 直接引语: The teacher said to the students, “Open your books.”
间接引语: The teacher told the students to open their books.
翻译: 老师让学生们打开书。
- 直接引语: She said to me, “Don’t make noise.”
间接引语: She asked me not to make noise.
翻译: 她让我不要吵闹。
四、 虚拟语气与情态动词的间接引语
某些情态动词在间接引语中没有过去式(如 must),或者为了保持虚拟语气的结构而不变。
常见变化:
- must → had to
- shall (表将来) → should
- may → might
例句:
10. 直接引语: He said, “You must finish it today.”
间接引语: He said that I had to finish it that day.
翻译: 他说我那天必须完成那个。
- 直接引语: She said, “I may come late.”
间接引语: She said that she might come late.
翻译: 她说她可能会晚来。
五、 时间、地点及代词的常见转换
在间接引语中,以下成分通常需要改变:
| 直接引语 | 间接引语 |
|---|---|
| this | that |
| these | those |
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| here | there |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| ago | before / earlier |
例句:
12. 直接引语: He said, “I will meet you here tomorrow.”
间接引语: He said that he would meet me there the next day.
翻译: 他说他第二天会在那里见我。
六、 特殊情况:客观事实与真理
如果转述的内容是客观事实、普遍真理或习惯性动作,即使主句是过去时,从句的时态保持不变。
例句:
13. 直接引语: The teacher said, “The earth moves around the sun.”
间接引语: The teacher said that the earth moves around the sun.
翻译: 老师说地球绕着太阳转。
总结表
| 直接引语类型 | 间接引语转换要点 | 关键词 |
|---|---|---|
| 陈述句 | 加 that,时态后退(backshift) | said (that) / told me (that) |
| 一般疑问句 | 改陈述语序,加 if/whether | asked if/whether |
| 特殊疑问句 | 改陈述语序,保留疑问词 | asked what/when/where… |
| 祈使句 | 改为不定式结构 | told/asked/ordered sb (not) to do |
| 真理/事实 | 时态不变 | (时态无变化) |
