Reported Speech: Questions
What Is It?
Reported Speech: Questions refers to indirect reporting of yes/no and wh- questions.
B1-B2 reference topic in Reported Speech.
Why Use It?
- Report questions politely and accurately.
- Use statement word order after the question word.
- Choose if/whether for yes/no questions.
Formation and Patterns
| Use | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wh-question | asked + wh-word + S + V | She asked where I lived. |
| Yes/no question | asked + if/whether + S + V | He asked whether I had paid. |
| Polite report | wanted to know + clause | They wanted to know when class started. |
Common Mistakes
- Keeping question word order: "where did I live" after asked.
- Using a question mark after an indirect question in a statement.
- Forgetting if/whether in yes/no reported questions.
Exceptions & Nuances
- Whether is preferred before or not and in more formal contexts.