Reporting Questions
Reporting questions requires a fundamental transformation from the interrogative structure of direct questions to the declarative structure of reported speech. Unlike reporting statements, questions must change their word order, lose their question marks, and be introduced with specific question words or phrases that maintain the questioning intent whilst conforming to the grammatical patterns of reported speech.
The key challenge in reporting questions lies in preserving the questioning function whilst adapting to statement structure. Yes/no questions transform using "if" or "whether" to maintain their binary nature, whilst wh-questions retain their question words but adopt statement word order. These changes ensure that the reported question remains grammatically consistent with the reporting context whilst clearly conveying the interrogative intent of the original question.
Understanding question reporting is essential for academic writing, journalism, interviews, and everyday conversation where we need to relay what someone asked without using direct quotation. The systematic approach to transforming questions maintains both the semantic content and the pragmatic function of the original question whilst integrating it smoothly into narrative or conversational flow.
Mastering reported questions will enhance your ability to write sophisticated dialogue, conduct interviews, summarise conversations, and communicate complex questioning scenarios in both formal and informal contexts. This skill is particularly valuable for research writing, meeting minutes, legal documentation, and any situation where accurate reporting of inquiries and responses is crucial for maintaining clarity and precision.
Types of Questions in Reported Speech
Overview of Question Types
Yes/No Questions:
Use if/whether + statement word order
Direct: "Are you coming?"
Reported: She asked if I was coming.
Direct: "Do you like coffee?"
Reported: He asked whether I liked coffee.
Wh-Questions:
Keep question word + statement word order
Direct: "Where do you live?"
Reported: She asked where I lived.
Direct: "What time is it?"
Reported: He asked what time it was.
Key Changes:
- Change word order from question to statement structure
- Remove question marks
- Apply appropriate tense backshift
- Use "asked" as the reporting verb
- Add if/whether for yes/no questions
Word Order Transformation
Direct Question Order:
Yes/No: Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb
Do you speak French?
Wh-: Question Word + Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb
Where do you work?
Reported Question Order:
Yes/No: If/Whether + Subject + Verb
She asked if I spoke French.
Wh-: Question Word + Subject + Verb
He asked where I worked.
If vs Whether: Usage Guidelines
Use "If":
- In casual conversation
- When reporting yes/no questions
- In most everyday situations
- When either answer is equally likely
Example: She asked if I was free.
Use "Whether":
- In formal writing
- Before infinitives
- With "or not"
- In academic/business contexts
Example: He asked whether to proceed or not.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ She asked where do I live?
✅ She asked where I lived.
Use statement word order, not question order. Remove question mark.
❌ He asked that I was ready.
✅ He asked if I was ready.
Use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions, not 'that'
❌ They asked what did I want?
✅ They asked what I wanted.
Remove auxiliary 'did' and use statement word order
❌ She asked if do I speak French.
✅ She asked if I spoke French.
Remove auxiliary 'do' and apply backshift
❌ He asked me where was the station.
✅ He asked me where the station was.
Use statement word order: subject before verb
Step-by-Step Question Transformation
Yes/No Questions:
Example: "Are you coming tomorrow?"
- Add "asked if/whether"
- Change to statement word order
- Apply backshift (are → was)
- Change time reference (tomorrow → the next day)
- Remove question mark
Result: She asked if I was coming the next day.
Wh-Questions:
Example: "Where do you work?"
- Keep question word (where)
- Add "asked"
- Change to statement word order
- Remove auxiliary (do)
- Apply backshift if needed
Result: He asked where I worked.
Question Words in Reported Speech
People & Things:
- who → who
- whom → whom
- what → what
- which → which
- whose → whose
Place & Time:
- where → where
- when → when
- how long → how long
- how often → how often
- how far → how far
Manner & Reason:
- how → how
- why → why
- how much → how much
- how many → how many
- what kind → what kind
Practice Patterns
Common Question Transformations:
Present Simple:
"Do you like...?" → asked if I liked...
"Where do you live?" → asked where I lived
Present Continuous:
"Are you working?" → asked if I was working
"What are you doing?" → asked what I was doing
Present Perfect:
"Have you finished?" → asked if I had finished
"How long have you lived...?" → asked how long I had lived...
Future:
"Will you come?" → asked if I would come
"When will you arrive?" → asked when I would arrive