Reported questions

A Wh-questions

We can report questions with verbs like ask, wonder or want to know. Look first at these wh-questions.

DIRECT QUESTION REPORTED QUESTION

'When did you start acting, Melissa?' Guy asked Melissa when she started acting.

'What's the time?' I just asked what the time is.

'Which way is the post office?' Someone wants to know which way the post office is.

'How can we find out?' I was wondering how we can find out.

'Where can we eat?' They're asking where they can eat.

Wh-questions have a word like when, what, which or how both in direct speech and in reported speech.

B Yes/no questions

DIRECT QUESTION REPORTED QUESTION

'Has the taxi arrived yet?' ~ 'No, not yet' Someone was wondering if/whether the taxi has arrived yet.

'Can we take photos?' ~ 'Yes, of course.' The visitors want to know if/whether they can take photos.

'Is there a cafe nearby?' ~ 'No.' Daniel asked if/whether there was a cafe nearby.

Reported yes/no questions have if or whether.

C Word order

In a reported question the subject comes before the verb, as in a statement.

Guy asked Melissa when she started acting. NOT Guy asked Melissa when did she start acting.

Someone was wondering if the taxi has arrived yet. NOT Someone was wondering if has the taxi arrived yet.

D Asking for information

To ask politely for information, we sometimes use a reported question after a phrase like Could you tell me ... ? or Do you know ... ?

Could you tell me what time the concert starts?

Do you know if there's a public phone in the building?

Have you any idea how much a taxi would cost?

Note the word order a taxi would cost.

E The tense change: is —► was, etc

In reported speech there are often changes to the tense, to pronouns and so on. This depends on changes to the situation since the words were spoken. Here are some examples of the tense change.

'What's the problem?' We asked what the problem was.

'How much money have you got, Vicky?' I was wondering how much money Vicky had.

'Does Nick need a lift?' Tom asked if Nick needed a lift.

'Can you type?' They asked me if I could type.