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TermsEnglish (UK) · Reported Speech
Reported Questions & Commands
Reported questions use statement word order: the subject comes first, then the verb, with no do/does/did and no question mark.
- “Where do you live?” → she asked me where I lived
- “What's your name?” → he asked what my name was
- “Where did you go?” → she asked where I had gone (the past simple went is also fine)
For yes/no questions, add if or whether: “Are you coming?” → he asked if I was coming.
Backshift works as in statements (can → could, will → would). If the fact is still true, the present is also fine.
Requests and orders use tell/ask + person + to + verb: “Please wait.” → she told us to wait. For a negative order, put not before to: “Don't touch it!” → he told me not to touch it.
Examples
- “Where are you from?” – She asked me where I was from.
- “Do you have a pen?” – He asked if I had a pen.
- “Why did you leave?” – They asked me why I had left.
- “Please help me.” – My sister asked me to help her.
- “Don't shout!” – The teacher told us not to shout.
Try it yourself
“Where do you live?” – She asked me where I (live).Show answer
“Where do you live?” – She asked me where I lived.
“What do you want?” – Yesterday the waiter asked me what I (want).Show answer
“What do you want?” – Yesterday the waiter asked me what I wanted.
“What's your name?” – The teacher asked me what my name (be).Show answer
“What's your name?” – The teacher asked me what my name was.
“How old are you?” – Last year a boy asked me how old I (be).Show answer
“How old are you?” – Last year a boy asked me how old I was.
“Where is the station?” – Yesterday a tourist asked me where the station (be).Show answer
“Where is the station?” – Yesterday a tourist asked me where the station was.
“What are you doing?” – Last night Dad asked me what I (do).Show answer
“What are you doing?” – Last night Dad asked me what I was doing.
“Where did you go?” – My mother asked me where I (go).Show answer
“Where did you go?” – My mother asked me where I had gone.
“Who did you meet?” – Last night Sam asked me who I (meet).Show answer
“Who did you meet?” – Last night Sam asked me who I had met.
“What will you do next?” – Last June my teacher asked me what I (do) next.Show answer
“What will you do next?” – Last June my teacher asked me what I would do next.
“Are you coming?” – He asked I was coming.Show answer
“Are you coming?” – He asked if I was coming.