WORD ORDER
Normal word order is used in reported questions, that is, the subject comes before the verb, and it is not necessary to use ‘do’ or ‘did’:
EXAMPLES
Direct speech |
Indirect speech |
|---|---|
“Where does Peter live?” |
She asked him where Peter lived. |
“Where are you going?” |
She asked where I was going. |
“Why is she crying?” |
He asked why she was crying. |
YES / NO QUESTIONS
This type of question is reported by using ‘ask’ + ‘if / whether’ + clause:
EXAMPLES
Direct speech |
Indirect speech |
|---|---|
“Do you speak English?” |
He asked me if I spoke English. |
“Are you British or American?” |
He asked me whether I was British or American. |
“Is it raining?” |
She asked if it was raining. |
“Have you got a computer?” |
He wanted to know whether I had a computer. |
“Can you type?” |
She asked if I could type. |
“Did you come by train?” |
He enquired whether I had come by train. |
“Have you been to Bristol before?” |
She asked if I had been to Bristol before. |
QUESTION WORDS
This type of question is reported by using ‘ask’ (or another verb like ‘ask’) + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.
EXAMPLES
Direct speech |
Indirect speech |
|---|---|
“What is your name?” he asked me. |
He asked me what my name was. |
“How old is your mother?”, he asked. |
He asked how old her mother was. |
The policman said to the boy, “Where do you live?” |
The policeman asked the boy where he lived. |
“What time does the train arrive?” she asked. |
She asked what time the train arrived. |
“When can we have dinner?” she asked. |
She asked when they could have dinner. |
Peter said to John, “Why are you so late?” |
Peter asked John why he was so late. |