REPORTED SPEECH QUESTIONS

WH questions are formed using

WHAT WHERE WHEN WHO WHOSE WHICH WHY HOW ()

When we report a Wh-question, we use a reporting verb.

Reported verbs are in the past tense.

Asked ( + somebody) enquired wanted to know wondered

Direct: He said to me, Where do you live ?

If the direct WH question uses do/does/did to form the tense of the

question, this verb is not used in the indirect statement.

Remove the question mark ? and the speech marks

The WH word stays in the same position.

You have to change the verbs from the present tense to the past tense

Remember: I YOU YOU I WE THEY THEY WE

Indirect: He asked me where I lived.

If the WH question does NOT have do/does/did to form the tense then
you have to change the position of the subject and 1st verb

Direct: Mother said to me, What are you doing there?

Indirect: Mother wanted to know what I was doing there.

When we report a Yes/No question, we use whether or if.

When we report a YES / NO question, we use a reporting verb.

Reported verbs are in the past tense.

Asked ( + somebody) enquired wanted to know wondered

Direct: The teacher said to me, Do you know the answer ?

If the direct YES / NO question uses do/does/did to form the tense of

the question, this verb is not used in the indirect statement.

Remove the question mark ? and the speech marks

WHETHER / IF is situated after the reporting verb ( + somebody).

You have to change the verbs from the present tense to the past tense

Remember: I YOU YOU I WE THEY THEY WE

Indirect: The teacher asked me if I knew the answer.

Direct: Suma said to me, Are you interested in this offer?

Indirect: Suma asked me if I was interested in that offer.

Direct: Martha said, Will Lucy trust a guy like Martin?

Indirect: Martha wanted to know if Lucy would trust a guy like Martin.

Direct: Do you think you know better than your dad? the angry mother said.

Indirect: The angry mother asked her son if he thought that he knew better than his dad.