As with reported statements, we may need to change pronouns and tense as well as time and place in reported questions. But we also need to change the word order. After we report a question, it is no longer a question (and in writing, there is no question mark).
The word order is like that of a normal statement subject-verb-object and the auxiliaries do, does and did disappear.
Let’s take a look at how we can report questions in English.
Yes/No questions
To report this type of question we use the formula asked + if/whether + clause. Whether is a little more formal than if.
👉 “Do you like coffee?”, she asked me → She asked me if I liked coffee (remember to change the verb tense)
👉 “Do you want to come?”, They asked us → They asked us whether we wanted to come
👉 “Did she buy the book?”, He asked me → She asked me if she had bought the book
👉 “Are you studying now?”, She asked me → She asked me if I was studying then
Wh questions
To report this type of question we use the formula asked + question word + clause
👉 He said, “Where do you live?” → He asked me where I lived
👉 He said, “What is your favourite colour”? → She asked me what my favourite colour was
👉 He said, “Why have you broken the window?” → He asked me why I had broken the window