eng8-3.2· Unit 3: Reported Speech· ~13 min

Reported questions & commands (intro)

asked if/whether, asked + wh-, told/asked + to.

When we report what someone asked or ordered, we do NOT keep the original question or command word-for-word. For yes/no questions, we use 'asked + if / whether' and switch to statement word order (subject before verb, no auxiliary 'do/does/did'): 'Are you ready?' → She asked if I was ready. For wh- questions, we use 'asked + wh- word' and again use statement word order — no inversion: 'Where do you live?' → He asked where I lived. Notice that we still apply the usual backshift of tenses (Present Simple → Past Simple, etc.) when the reporting verb is past. For commands and requests, we use 'told + object + to + infinitive' (orders) or 'asked + object + to + infinitive' (polite requests): 'Close the door!' → The teacher told us to close the door. For negative commands, add 'not' before 'to': 'Don't shout!' → She told him not to shout. For example: The doctor told the patient to rest and asked whether he had eaten anything.

Key terms

Reported question — A question retold inside a statement (not word-for-word). It uses statement word order, no question mark, and no auxiliary do/does/did. For example: 'Where do you live?' becomes He asked where I lived.
Reported command — An order or request retold with 'told/asked + object + to + infinitive'. For example: 'Sit down!' becomes The teacher told us to sit down.
if / whether — The words used to introduce a reported yes/no question. Both are equally correct. For example: 'Are you ready?' becomes She asked if (whether) I was ready.
told ... to — The structure 'told + object + to + base verb' used to report orders. For example: Mum told me to come here. Use 'asked + object + to' for polite requests.
Statement word order — Subject before verb, with no inversion (the verb does not come before the subject). Reported questions use this order: He asked where I lived, not where did I live.
Backshift — Moving the tense one step back when the reporting verb is past: Present Simple to Past Simple, is/are to was/were, can to could, will to would. For example: 'Can you help?' becomes She asked if he could help.
Reporting questions (yes/no and wh-)
Direct questionReported question
Are you tired?Tom asked me if I was tired.
Is she here?He asked whether she was there.
Where do you live?She asked where I lived.
What is your name?The teacher asked him what his name was.
Why are you crying?Mum asked why she was crying.
Reporting commands and requests
DirectReported
Sit down!The teacher told us to sit down.
Please open the window.She asked him to open the window.
Don't touch that!She told him not to touch that.
Don't make noise.The teacher asked the students not to make noise.
✎Reporting a wh- question: 'Where do you live?' (He asked me.)
  1. 11. Keep the wh- word: Start the reported clause with the wh- word: He asked me where ...
  2. 22. Use statement word order: Put the subject before the verb and drop the auxiliary 'do': where I live (not where do I live).
  3. 33. Backshift the tense: The reporting verb 'asked' is past, so 'live' becomes 'lived'.
  4. 44. Result: He asked me where I lived. No 'do', no inversion, no question mark.
✎Reporting a command: 'Don't touch that!' (She told him.)
  1. 11. Choose the verb: Use 'told + object' for an order: She told him ...
  2. 22. Use 'to + base verb': Change the imperative to 'to + infinitive': to touch that.
  3. 33. Make it negative: For a negative command, put 'not' before 'to': not to touch.
  4. 44. Result: She told him not to touch that. Not 'don't touch', not 'to not touch'.
🚫Common mistake

In a reported question, use statement word order (subject before verb). Write He asked where I lived, NOT He asked where did I live or where was I.

🚫Common mistake

Never keep the auxiliary do/does/did in a reported question. 'How many books do you have?' becomes ... how many books she had, not ... did she have.

⚠️Caution

A reported question is a statement, so it takes NO question mark. Write She asked if he was coming. with a full stop, not a '?'.

🚫Common mistake

For commands, use 'to + base verb', and put 'not' before 'to' for negatives: told us to sit down, told him not to touch that. Avoid 'told us sit', 'to not touch', or keeping 'don't'.

Rules

  1. 1Yes/no questions → asked + if/whether + statement word order (subject + verb): 'Is she here?' → He asked if she was there.
  2. 2Wh- questions → asked + wh- word + statement word order, no auxiliary: 'Where do you live?' → She asked where I lived.
  3. 3Backshift applies: Present Simple → Past Simple, is/are → was/were, can → could, will → would.
  4. 4Commands/orders → told + object + to + infinitive: 'Sit down!' → The teacher told us to sit down.
  5. 5Negative commands → told/asked + object + not + to + infinitive: 'Don't be late!' → She told him not to be late.

Practice

10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed