- On this page:
- Form and meaning
- Teaching ideas
Form & meaning
These general rules for reported speech also apply.
- 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.
- Direct speech: “Where are you going?”
- 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.
- Direct speech: “Who doesn’t like cheese?”
- 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.
- Direct speech: “Do you want me to come?”
- 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 / She asked me what was my favourite colour.
- Direct speech: “Who is the champion?”
