Questions

Watch this short film.

As you can see, reporting questions is almost the same as reporting the statements. In fact, in reported speech, a question becomes a positive statement (subject before verb):

• Question (Wh-) words:

He said, 'Where does she live?' [ He wondered where she lived.

She said, 'How old are you?' [ She asked how old I was.

• Yes / No questions:

  • 'Do you play tennis?' Tom asked me. [ Tom asked if I played tennis. (more usual)

  • 'Do you want fish or chicken?' mum asked. [ Mum wanted to know whether I wanted fish or chicken. (the emphasis on the choice)

The introductory verbs are: ask, wonder, want to know, inquire, etc.

Try the tests here, here, here, here or here.