English grammar - Reported questions

Resource centre - English grammar - Reported questions

Form and meaning

These general rules for reported speech also apply.

1. When we report questions, the subject comes before the verb.
   • Direct speech: "Where are you going?"
     Reported speech: He asked me where I was going.
   • Direct speech: "Why is he shouting?"
     Reported speech: He asked me why he was shouting.
   • Direct speech: "What do you want?"
     Reported speech: She asked me what I wanted.
2. When reporting questions we don't use the auxiliary verb do, except in negative questions.
   • Direct speech: "Who doesn't like cheese?"
     Reported speech: She asked me who didn't like cheese.
3. We report yes / no questions with if or whether.
   • Direct speech: "Do you want me to come?"
     Reported speech: I asked him if he wanted me to come.
   • Direct speech: "Have you fed the dog?"
     Reported speech: She asked me whether I had fed the dog.
4. When we report questions with who, what or which + to be + object, the verb be can come before or after the object.
   • Direct speech: "Who is the champion?"
     Reported speech: She asked me who the champion was / She asked me who was the champion.
   • Direct speech: "What is your favourite colour?"
     Reported speech: She asked me what my favourite colour was OR She asked me what was my favourite colour.

Teaching ideas for reported questions

How do you teach reported questions? Add your idea »

Rama

One of your students could be a famous personality visiting their town/city. Other students interview him/her and report back.

Khalid

Example A
Student 1: Are they happy?
Student 2: Yes, they are.
Student 3: What did he ask you?
Student 2: He asked me if they were happy.

Example B
Student 1: What is your name?
Student 2: My name is Sami.
Student 3: What did he ask you?
Student 2: He asked me what my name was.

Dada Santic

I use a timeline:
I put the reporting verb in the "PAST" on the line in regard to "NOW".
---PAST (reporting verb)---NOW---
This is to better understand the logics of English, to see e.g. why the present tense in direct speech becomes the past tense in reported speech, in fact to show that it stays in the past together with the reporting verb.

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