Grammar › Reported Speech › Reported Questions
Reported Questions
Reported questions look like statements, not questions. The key changes are:
- Statement word order — 'Where do you live?' → She asked where I lived (not 'where did I live').
- Yes/no questions take 'if' or 'whether' — 'Are you ok?' → He asked if I was ok.
- No 'do/does/did' and no question mark.
The tense backshifts like reported statements. Use 'asked' (or 'wanted to know'), and keep the wh-word for wh-questions.
How to report a question
Use statement word order, no do/does/did, and no question mark.
| Direct question | Reported question |
|---|---|
| ”Where do you live?” | She asked where I lived. |
| ”What is your name?” | He asked what my name was. |
| ”Are you ready?” | She asked if I was ready. |
| ”Do you like it?” | He asked whether I liked it. |
| ”Why did she leave?” | They asked why she had left. |
Keep the wh-word for wh-questions; use if / whether for yes/no questions.
When and how to change things
1. Wh-questions — keep the question word
- “Where are you going?” → She asked where I was going.
2. Yes/no questions — use if / whether
- “Do you smoke?” → He asked if I smoked.
3. Drop ‘do’ and the question mark
- “What does he want?” → She asked what he wanted. (no does, no ?)
⚠️ Typical error: don’t keep question word order. She asked where I lived — not
she asked where did I live.
Common mistakes
1. Keeping question word order. He asked what was my name → He asked what my name was.
2. Leaving in ‘do/does/did’. She asked if did I like it → She asked if I liked it.
3. Adding a question mark. He asked where I lived? → He asked where I lived. Pro tip: a reported question is really a statement about a question, so write it like a statement.
✏️ Practice: Reported Questions
1. "Where do you live?" → She asked where ___.
2. "Are you ready?" → He asked ___ ready.
3. "What is your name?" → She asked what ___.
4. "Do you like coffee?" → He asked ___ coffee.
5. "Why did she leave?" → They asked why ___.
6. "Can you swim?" → She asked ___ swim.
7. "What are you doing?" → He asked what ___.
8. Correct this: 'She asked me where did I work.'
9. "Have you seen my keys?" → He asked ___ his keys.
10. Which reported question is correct?
Frequently asked questions
What word order do reported questions use?
Statement order — subject before verb: She asked where I lived (not 'where did I live'). There is no question mark.
How do I report a yes/no question?
Use 'if' or 'whether': 'Do you like it?' → She asked if I liked it. 'Are you coming?' → He asked whether I was coming.
What happens to 'do', 'does' and 'did'?
They disappear. The auxiliary 'do' is only for direct questions: 'Where does he work?' → She asked where he worked.
Do I still backshift the tense?
Yes, after a past reporting verb: 'What are you doing?' → He asked what I was doing.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Reported Questions”:
- Can report wh- and yes/no questions with statement word order (CEFR B1).
- Can use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions and drop the auxiliary 'do'.
- Can backshift tenses and remove the question mark.
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