Reported Questions

English Grammar Tutorial — Lesson 24 of 24

Lesson 24

Learning objectives: Learn how to change direct questions into reported questions, use statement word order, and choose the correct tense and reporting verb.

1. What Are Reported Questions?

We use a reported question to tell someone what another person asked. We do not use the exact words of the speaker.

Direct Question	Reported Question	Hindi Meaning
He asked, “Where do you live?”	He asked me where I lived.	उसने मुझसे पूछा कि मैं कहाँ रहता था।
She asked, “Are you busy?”	She asked me if I was busy.	उसने मुझसे पूछा कि क्या मैं व्यस्त था।
Ravi asked, “What is your name?”	Ravi asked me what my name was.	रवि ने मुझसे पूछा कि मेरा नाम क्या था।

2. Rules for Reported Questions

Rule 1: Use statement word order

In a reported question, put the subject before the verb. Do not use question word order.

Direct: She asked, “Where are you going?”
Reported: She asked me where I was going.

Rule 2: WH-questions keep the question word

Use words such as what, where, when, why, who, how and which.

“Why are you late?” → He asked me why I was late.
“When will you arrive?” → She asked when I would arrive.
“How did you solve it?” → The teacher asked how I had solved it.

Rule 3: Yes/No questions use if or whether

When a direct question can be answered with yes or no, use if or whether.

“Do you know him?” → She asked me if I knew him.
“Have you finished?” → He asked whether I had finished.
“Can you swim?” → They asked me if I could swim.

Rule 4: Change pronouns and tense when needed

Pronouns change according to the speaker and listener. If the reporting verb is in the past, the tense often moves one step back.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
am / is	was
are	were
do / does	did or is removed in statement structure
did	had + past participle (often)
will	would
can	could
have / has	had

Note: Backshift is not always necessary when the information is still true or the reporting context does not require it.

3. Reporting Verbs

Common reporting verbs for questions are asked, wanted to know, inquired and questioned.

He asked me where I worked.
She wanted to know whether I was ready.
The officer inquired why we were there.

Avoid using said directly before a reported question. Prefer “asked” or “wanted to know.”

4. Daily-Use Examples with Hindi Meanings

Direct Question	Reported Question	Hindi Meaning
“Where do you work?”	He asked me where I worked.	उसने मुझसे पूछा कि मैं कहाँ काम करता था।
“What are you doing?”	She asked me what I was doing.	उसने मुझसे पूछा कि मैं क्या कर रहा था।
“Did you call me?”	He asked if I had called him.	उसने पूछा कि क्या मैंने उसे फोन किया था।
“Will you come tomorrow?”	She asked whether I would come the next day.	उसने पूछा कि क्या मैं अगले दिन आऊँगा।
“Why have you come here?”	He asked me why I had come there.	उसने मुझसे पूछा कि मैं वहाँ क्यों आया था।
“Can I use your phone?”	He asked if he could use my phone.	उसने पूछा कि क्या वह मेरा फोन इस्तेमाल कर सकता था।
“How long have you been waiting?”	She asked how long I had been waiting.	उसने पूछा कि मैं कितनी देर से इंतज़ार कर रहा था।
“Is the shop open?”	He asked whether the shop was open.	उसने पूछा कि क्या दुकान खुली थी।

5. Common Mistakes

Incorrect	Correct	Reason
He asked me where was I going.	He asked me where I was going.	Use statement word order.
She asked me that I was ready.	She asked me if I was ready.	Use if/whether for yes/no questions.
He asked where did I live.	He asked where I lived.	Do not use “did” question structure.
She said me what I wanted.	She asked me what I wanted.	Use “asked” for a question.

6. Quick Quiz

1. Choose the correct reported question:
He asked, “Where do you live?”

He asked where did I live. He asked where I lived. He asked that where I lived.

2. Complete the sentence:
She asked me ______ I was tired.

that if did

3. Choose the correct sentence:

He asked me what was my name. He asked me what my name was. He asked me what is my name.

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