What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to report yes/no questions and WH questions correctly.
When do I use it?
Use reported questions to pass on what someone asked. The tense changes (backshift) just like in reported statements, but the word order is that of a statement, not a question:
- Direct: "Where do you live?" → Reported: "She asked me where I lived."
- Direct: "Are you tired?" → Reported: "He asked if I was tired."
There is no inversion and no question mark, because the reported question is not a question.
How do I form it?
asked + (me/us/him...) + question word + subject + verb asked + (me...) + if / whether + subject + verb
- They asked me where I worked.
- I asked her if she had finished.
- He asked whether we were coming.
- She asked what time the meeting started.
Use if or whether for yes/no questions. WH questions keep their question word (what, where, when, why, how) and then continue as a statement.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers keep question word order in the reported clause ("me preguntó dónde vivía yo" → "she asked me where did I live" is wrong) and keep the question mark. English reported questions use statement order and end with a full stop: "She asked me where I lived." Also, the subject usually moves inside: "asked me if I was coming", not "asked me if was I coming".
Reported question = ask + question word/if + subject + verb (no inversion, no question mark).
Practice
Multiple Choice
B1Which sentence is correct?
Fill in the Blank
B1He asked me I wanted coffee.
Hint: Yes/no questions are reported with 'if' or 'whether'.
Fill in the Blank
B1She asked me the station was.
Hint: WH questions keep their question word; the rest is statement order.
Sentence Transformation
B1Task: Report the question (He asked me...)
Hint: Yes/no question → if/whether + statement order + backshift.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: B1