Reported Questions: Wh- Questions
Reported wh- questions turn inquiries into statements by switching word order and removing helping verbs.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use 'asked' plus the 'wh-' word to start the report.
- Change the word order to Subject + Verb like a statement.
- Remove 'do', 'does', and 'did' from the reported sentence.
- Shift the main verb into the past tense and remove question marks.
Quick Reference
| Direct Question | Reported Question | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| "Where is he?" | She asked where he was. | Verb moves to end |
| "What do you want?" | He asked what I wanted. | Remove 'do' |
| "Who are they?" | I asked who they were. | Are -> Were |
| "When does it start?" | They asked when it started. | Remove 'does' |
| "Why are you sad?" | She asked why I was sad. | Pronoun + Tense shift |
| "How is the food?" | He asked how the food was. | Statement order |
Key Examples
3 of 8He asked where the library was.
Il a demandé où se trouvait la bibliothèque.
She asked what I liked to eat.
Elle a demandé ce que j'aimais manger.
They asked who lived in that house.
Ils ont demandé qui habitait dans cette maison.
The 'No-Do' Rule
Think of 'do' and 'does' as training wheels on a bike. When you report a question, you are a pro, so you throw the training wheels away!
Watch the Punctuation
Never put a question mark at the end of a reported question. It is a secret statement in disguise, so use a period.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use 'asked' plus the 'wh-' word to start the report.
- Change the word order to Subject + Verb like a statement.
- Remove 'do', 'does', and 'did' from the reported sentence.
- Shift the main verb into the past tense and remove question marks.
Overview
Imagine you are at a busy airport. A traveler asks you, "Where is the gate?" Later, you tell your friend about this encounter. You say, "A traveler asked me where the gate was." This is reported speech for wh- questions. You are not asking the question yourself. You are simply reporting what someone else wanted to know. It is like being a messenger for information. This grammar helps you tell stories and share news clearly. It makes your English sound smooth and professional. You will use this when gossiping or giving updates. It is a vital tool for everyday communication.
How This Grammar Works
Reported questions turn a direct question into a statement. You are describing the act of asking. Because it is now a statement, the rules change. You do not need a question mark anymore. You also do not need the helping verbs do, does, or did. The sentence structure shifts from a question to a normal sentence. Think of it as unfolding a folded piece of paper. The meaning stays the same, but the shape is different. You are moving the information from the past into your current conversation. It is like a grammar time machine for your sentences.
Formation Pattern
- 1Start with the person who asked the question.
- 2Use a reporting verb like
askedorwanted to know. - 3Keep the original
wh-word likewho,what, orwhere. - 4Put the subject of the question next.
- 5Change the verb to the past tense.
- 6Remove the question mark and use a period.
- 7Delete helping verbs like
do,does, ordid. - 8Check your pronouns to make sure they make sense.
- 9Ensure the word order is Subject + Verb.
When To Use It
You use this when retelling a conversation to others. It is perfect for job interviews when describing past tasks. "My boss asked why I was late." Use it when ordering food for a group. "The waiter asked what we wanted to drink." It is very common in news reports and stories. Use it when you want to be polite and indirect. It helps you avoid sounding like you are interrogating someone. It is great for summarizing long meetings or phone calls. Use it whenever you need to repeat a wh- inquiry.
When Not To Use It
Do not use this for direct quotes in dialogue. If you use quotation marks, keep the original question. Do not use it for simple "Yes/No" questions. Those questions require the word if or whether instead. Avoid using it if you are currently asking the question. If you need an answer now, just ask directly! Do not use it if you want to sound very urgent. Reported speech is usually for reflection, not for immediate action. It is a bit too slow for emergency situations.
Common Mistakes
Many people keep the question word order by accident. They say, "He asked where is the bus." This is wrong. You must say, "He asked where the bus was." Another mistake is keeping the word do or does. Never say, "She asked what does he like." Say, "She asked what he liked." Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! Do not forget to change the tense of the verb. If the original was present, the reported version is past. Forget the question mark at the end of the sentence. It is a statement now, so use a period.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Compare this to direct questions like "Where are you?" Direct questions use a question mark and inverted word order. Reported questions use a period and standard statement word order. Compare it also to if questions. We use if for questions starting with is, are, or do. We use the wh- word for questions starting with who or why. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Wh- words stay green, but the word order must stop and change. It is different from reported statements which use the word that.
Quick FAQ
Q. Do I need to use that?
A. No, never use that with reported questions.
Q. Can I use said?
A. No, use asked because it was originally a question.
Q. What happens to today?
A. It usually changes to that day in reported speech.
Q. Is how a wh- word?
A. Yes, how follows the exact same reporting rules.
Q. Do I change can to could?
A. Yes, modal verbs also move to the past tense.
Reference Table
| Direct Question | Reported Question | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| "Where is he?" | She asked where he was. | Verb moves to end |
| "What do you want?" | He asked what I wanted. | Remove 'do' |
| "Who are they?" | I asked who they were. | Are -> Were |
| "When does it start?" | They asked when it started. | Remove 'does' |
| "Why are you sad?" | She asked why I was sad. | Pronoun + Tense shift |
| "How is the food?" | He asked how the food was. | Statement order |
The 'No-Do' Rule
Think of 'do' and 'does' as training wheels on a bike. When you report a question, you are a pro, so you throw the training wheels away!
Watch the Punctuation
Never put a question mark at the end of a reported question. It is a secret statement in disguise, so use a period.
Word Order is King
If you are unsure, try saying the second half of the sentence as a normal fact. 'The bus was there' becomes '...where the bus was'.
Politeness
English speakers often use reported questions to be more polite. Instead of 'Where is the toilet?', they might say 'I was wondering where the toilet was'.
أمثلة
8He asked where the library was.
Focus: where the library was
Il a demandé où se trouvait la bibliothèque.
The verb 'was' comes after the subject 'library'.
She asked what I liked to eat.
Focus: what I liked
Elle a demandé ce que j'aimais manger.
The helping verb 'do' is removed completely.
They asked who lived in that house.
Focus: who lived
Ils ont demandé qui habitait dans cette maison.
If 'who' is the subject, the order stays similar.
I asked when the train arrived.
Focus: when the train arrived
J'ai demandé quand le train arrivait.
The present 'arrives' becomes the past 'arrived'.
The manager inquired why the report was late.
Focus: inquired why
Le responsable a demandé pourquoi le rapport était en retard.
'Inquired' is a formal version of 'asked'.
✗ She asked where is the bank. → ✓ She asked where the bank was.
Focus: the bank was
Elle a demandé où était la banque.
Don't use question word order in a report.
✗ He asked what did I see. → ✓ He asked what I saw.
Focus: what I saw
Il a demandé ce que j'ai vu.
Remove 'did' and change the main verb to past.
She asked how much the tickets cost.
Focus: how much
Elle a demandé combien coûtaient les billets.
'How much' acts as a single wh- unit.
Test Yourself
Change the direct question to reported speech: "Where is my phone?"
He asked where ___ ___.
In reported speech, we use statement word order (Subject + Verb) and change 'is' to 'was'.
Change the direct question to reported speech: "What do you want?"
She asked what I ___.
We remove the helping verb 'do' and change the main verb 'want' to the past tense 'wanted'.
Choose the correct reported question for: "Why are they laughing?"
I asked ___ ___ ___.
We keep the 'wh-' word, put the subject 'they' first, and change 'are' to 'were'.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Direct vs. Reported Structure
Reporting a Wh- Question
Is there a 'do/does/did'?
Did you remove it?
Is the subject before the verb?
Common Wh- Words for Reporting
Place & Time
- • Where
- • When
People & Things
- • Who
- • What
- • Which
Reason & Method
- • Why
- • How
Frequently Asked Questions
20 questionsIt is a question that starts with words like who, what, where, when, why, or how. These questions ask for specific information rather than a yes or no.
We use it to tell someone else what was said in a previous conversation. It allows us to share information without repeating the exact words.
No, you must remove do, does, and did. For example, What do you eat? becomes He asked what I ate.
It is better to use asked or wanted to know. Using said sounds like a statement and can be confusing for the listener.
Usually, yes. If the original question is in the present tense, the reported question moves back to the past tense, like is becoming was.
The word order changes from Verb-Subject to Subject-Verb. It becomes just like a normal sentence, such as where he was instead of where is he.
No, you do not use a question mark at the end of a reported question. You should always end the sentence with a simple period.
Yes, how follows the same rules as all other wh- words. You would say, She asked how I was instead of How are you?.
At the A1 level, you can keep it simple, but usually, it moves further back. Where did you go? becomes He asked where I had gone.
Yes, you can! You might say, I asked where my keys were when you are talking to yourself or explaining a situation to a friend.
The word which works exactly like what. For example, Which color do you like? becomes He asked which color I liked.
Yes, pronouns change to match the speaker. What do you want? becomes He asked what I wanted if he was talking to me.
Yes, wondered is a great reporting verb. It sounds very natural and slightly more thoughtful than just using asked.
No, you do not need a comma before the wh- word in reported speech. The sentence should flow continuously without a pause.
Yes, you can include the object (the person being asked). Both He asked where... and He asked me where... are perfectly correct.
Sometimes you can keep the present tense, like He asked where the capital is. However, using the past tense is always a safe bet.
You would say, He asked who I was. Notice how the who stays at the front and the verb was moves to the end.
It is extremely common! You will often report what clients or managers asked during meetings using this specific grammar pattern.
Many languages keep the question order, which is why it is a common mistake for learners. In English, the statement order is mandatory.
It is better to avoid contractions like where's and use the full where the... was to ensure the word order is clear and correct.
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