Reported questions
Transform direct questions into reported questions without inversion.
Transform direct questions into reported questions without inversion.
Unit 60 – Reported questions (B2)
Introduction
In real conversations, we often need to repeat what someone asked us: to a colleague, to a friend, or in a formal report. However, when we report a question, we do not keep the original question form. Instead, we transform it into a statement-like structure, using reporting verbs and careful changes in word order, tense, pronouns, and time expressions. This unit will help you do that accurately and confidently, especially in situations where precision and tone matter.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to transform direct questions into reported questions without inversion, choose the correct reporting verb, apply backshift when appropriate, and adjust pronouns and time expressions to match the new context.
1) What are reported questions?
Reported questions (also called indirect questions) are questions we embed inside a larger sentence. We usually introduce them with a reporting verb such as ask, want to know, wonder, inquire, or ask someone. The key point is that the reported question becomes part of a statement, so the grammar changes accordingly.
Important concept
In reported questions, we use statement word order: subject + verb. There is no inversion (no “do/does/did” question structure).
Direct: “Where are you going?”
Reported: She asked me where I was going.
Direct: “Do you work remotely?”
Reported: He asked if I worked remotely.
2) Word order: no inversion
In direct questions, English typically uses inversion (auxiliary before subject) or “do-support.” In reported questions, we remove that question structure and keep the clause in statement order.
Direct: “What time does the meeting start?”
Reported: She asked what time the meeting started.
Direct: “Why did you leave early?”
Reported: He asked why I had left early.
Warning
Avoid “double question” grammar. Do not keep inversion inside the reported clause.
Incorrect: She asked what time did the meeting start.
Correct: She asked what time the meeting started.
3) Yes/No questions: use if or whether
If the direct question can be answered with “yes” or “no,” we introduce the reported clause with if or whether.
Direct: “Are you free tomorrow?”
Reported: She asked if/whether I was free the next day.
Direct: “Have you ever been to Lisbon?”
Reported: He asked if/whether I had ever been to Lisbon.
In many contexts, if and whether are interchangeable. Whether is often preferred in more formal style and when presenting alternatives:
They asked whether we wanted to meet on Monday or Tuesday.
4) Wh- questions: keep the question word
If the direct question begins with a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how, which), we keep that word in the reported question.
Direct: “Where did you buy it?”
Reported: She asked where I had bought it.
Direct: “How long will the project take?”
Reported: He asked how long the project would take.
5) Tense changes (backshift): when and why
When the reporting verb is in the past (asked, wondered, wanted to know), we commonly move the tense “one step back” to show distance in time and to reflect the original moment of speaking.
Present simple → past simple
Direct: “Do you like the new policy?”
Reported: She asked if I liked the new policy.
Present continuous → past continuous
Direct: “What are you working on?”
Reported: He asked what I was working on.
Past simple → past perfect (often, but not always necessary)
Direct: “Why did they cancel?”
Reported: She asked why they had cancelled.
Will → would
Direct: “When will you send it?”
Reported: He asked when I would send it.
Can → could
Direct: “Can you help me?”
Reported: She asked if I could help her.
May → might
Direct: “May I leave early?”
Reported: He asked if he might leave early.
However, backshift is not automatic. If the information is still true or the time reference is clearly present, speakers sometimes keep the original tense.
Example (still true): The client asked where our headquarters are. (They still are there.)
6) Pronouns, determiners, and time expressions
Reported questions require you to adjust perspective. The speaker changes, the listener changes, and the time and place may change too.
Pronouns/determiners often change:
Direct: “What do you think about my idea?”
Reported: She asked what I thought about her idea.
Common time/place shifts (depending on context):
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day / the following day
yesterday → the day before / the previous day
now → then
here → there
this → that
next week → the following week
7) Reporting verbs and tone
The reporting verb you choose can change the tone of the message. Ask is neutral. Inquire and would like to know sound more formal. Wonder often suggests curiosity rather than a direct request.
Neutral: She asked if I had finished the report.
Formal: The manager inquired whether the figures had been updated.
Curious: He wondered why the team had changed the plan.
8) Embedded questions: indirect questions in polite speech
Reported-question structure also appears in polite direct speech, especially when we soften a request or sound more professional. Even though we are speaking directly, we still use statement word order.
Could you tell me where the nearest branch is?
I was wondering if you could send the invoice today.
Do you know what time the interview starts?
Practice
Practice section
Transform each direct question into a reported question. Use the reporting verb given and apply backshift and reference changes where appropriate.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) “Where do you live?” (She asked me …) | She asked me where I lived. |
| 2) “Did you finish the presentation?” (He asked …) | He asked if/whether I had finished the presentation. |
| 3) “What time does the train leave?” (They wanted to know …) | They wanted to know what time the train left. |
| 4) “Are you meeting the client tomorrow?” (She asked …) | She asked if/whether I was meeting the client the next day. |
| 5) “Why did you choose this supplier?” (The director inquired …) | The director inquired why we had chosen that supplier. |
| 6) “How long have you worked here?” (He asked her …) | He asked her how long she had worked there. |
| 7) “Will you be able to join the call?” (She wondered …) | She wondered if/whether I would be able to join the call. |
| 8) “Can you send me the file now?” (He asked me …) | He asked me if I could send him the file then. |
| 9) “Which option do you prefer?” (They asked us …) | They asked us which option we preferred. |
| 10) “Have they approved the budget?” (She wanted to know …) | She wanted to know if/whether they had approved the budget. |
Unit 60 – Reported questions (B2)
Introduction
In real conversations, we often need to repeat what someone asked us: to a colleague, to a friend, or in a formal report. However, when we report a question, we do not keep the original question form. Instead, we transform it into a statement-like structure, using reporting verbs and careful changes in word order, tense, pronouns, and time expressions. This unit will help you do that accurately and confidently, especially in situations where precision and tone matter.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to transform direct questions into reported questions without inversion, choose the correct reporting verb, apply backshift when appropriate, and adjust pronouns and time expressions to match the new context.
1) What are reported questions?
Reported questions (also called indirect questions) are questions we embed inside a larger sentence. We usually introduce them with a reporting verb such as ask, want to know, wonder, inquire, or ask someone. The key point is that the reported question becomes part of a statement, so the grammar changes accordingly.
Important concept
In reported questions, we use statement word order: subject + verb. There is no inversion (no “do/does/did” question structure).
Direct: “Where are you going?”
Reported: She asked me where I was going.
Direct: “Do you work remotely?”
Reported: He asked if I worked remotely.
2) Word order: no inversion
In direct questions, English typically uses inversion (auxiliary before subject) or “do-support.” In reported questions, we remove that question structure and keep the clause in statement order.
Direct: “What time does the meeting start?”
Reported: She asked what time the meeting started.
Direct: “Why did you leave early?”
Reported: He asked why I had left early.
Warning
Avoid “double question” grammar. Do not keep inversion inside the reported clause.
Incorrect: She asked what time did the meeting start.
Correct: She asked what time the meeting started.
3) Yes/No questions: use if or whether
If the direct question can be answered with “yes” or “no,” we introduce the reported clause with if or whether.
Direct: “Are you free tomorrow?”
Reported: She asked if/whether I was free the next day.
Direct: “Have you ever been to Lisbon?”
Reported: He asked if/whether I had ever been to Lisbon.
In many contexts, if and whether are interchangeable. Whether is often preferred in more formal style and when presenting alternatives:
They asked whether we wanted to meet on Monday or Tuesday.
4) Wh- questions: keep the question word
If the direct question begins with a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how, which), we keep that word in the reported question.
Direct: “Where did you buy it?”
Reported: She asked where I had bought it.
Direct: “How long will the project take?”
Reported: He asked how long the project would take.
5) Tense changes (backshift): when and why
When the reporting verb is in the past (asked, wondered, wanted to know), we commonly move the tense “one step back” to show distance in time and to reflect the original moment of speaking.
Present simple → past simple
Direct: “Do you like the new policy?”
Reported: She asked if I liked the new policy.
Present continuous → past continuous
Direct: “What are you working on?”
Reported: He asked what I was working on.
Past simple → past perfect (often, but not always necessary)
Direct: “Why did they cancel?”
Reported: She asked why they had cancelled.
Will → would
Direct: “When will you send it?”
Reported: He asked when I would send it.
Can → could
Direct: “Can you help me?”
Reported: She asked if I could help her.
May → might
Direct: “May I leave early?”
Reported: He asked if he might leave early.
However, backshift is not automatic. If the information is still true or the time reference is clearly present, speakers sometimes keep the original tense.
Example (still true): The client asked where our headquarters are. (They still are there.)
6) Pronouns, determiners, and time expressions
Reported questions require you to adjust perspective. The speaker changes, the listener changes, and the time and place may change too.
Pronouns/determiners often change:
Direct: “What do you think about my idea?”
Reported: She asked what I thought about her idea.
Common time/place shifts (depending on context):
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day / the following day
yesterday → the day before / the previous day
now → then
here → there
this → that
next week → the following week
7) Reporting verbs and tone
The reporting verb you choose can change the tone of the message. Ask is neutral. Inquire and would like to know sound more formal. Wonder often suggests curiosity rather than a direct request.
Neutral: She asked if I had finished the report.
Formal: The manager inquired whether the figures had been updated.
Curious: He wondered why the team had changed the plan.
8) Embedded questions: indirect questions in polite speech
Reported-question structure also appears in polite direct speech, especially when we soften a request or sound more professional. Even though we are speaking directly, we still use statement word order.
Could you tell me where the nearest branch is?
I was wondering if you could send the invoice today.
Do you know what time the interview starts?
Practice
Practice section
Transform each direct question into a reported question. Use the reporting verb given and apply backshift and reference changes where appropriate.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) “Where do you live?” (She asked me …) | She asked me where I lived. |
| 2) “Did you finish the presentation?” (He asked …) | He asked if/whether I had finished the presentation. |
| 3) “What time does the train leave?” (They wanted to know …) | They wanted to know what time the train left. |
| 4) “Are you meeting the client tomorrow?” (She asked …) | She asked if/whether I was meeting the client the next day. |
| 5) “Why did you choose this supplier?” (The director inquired …) | The director inquired why we had chosen that supplier. |
| 6) “How long have you worked here?” (He asked her …) | He asked her how long she had worked there. |
| 7) “Will you be able to join the call?” (She wondered …) | She wondered if/whether I would be able to join the call. |
| 8) “Can you send me the file now?” (He asked me …) | He asked me if I could send him the file then. |
| 9) “Which option do you prefer?” (They asked us …) | They asked us which option we preferred. |
| 10) “Have they approved the budget?” (She wanted to know …) | She wanted to know if/whether they had approved the budget. |
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