Reported Yes/No Questions with 'If/Whether'

Direct questions are like sudden bursts of information. They use helping verbs like do, does, or did. When we report them, those helpers disappear. The sentence stops being a question. It transforms into a standard statement. Think of it as a grammar makeover. We shift the word order back to normal. We also move the tense backward in time. This is called backshifting. If the original question was in the present, the report is in the past. It might feel like a lot of moving parts. Do not worry. Your brain already does this in your native language. We just need to tune the English frequency.

1. 1Creating these sentences follows a clear sequence.
2. 2Start with a reporting verb. Asked is the classic choice. You can also use wondered or wanted to know.
3. 3Add your connector. Choose if for casual chats. Choose whether for formal settings or reports.
4. 4Change the word order. Move the subject before the verb.
5. 5Drop the auxiliary verbs. Say goodbye to do, does, and did.
6. 6Shift the tense. Change is to was or have to had.
7. 7Update the pronouns. Make sure "you" becomes "I" or "he/she" correctly.
8. 8Imagine you are at a cafe. A waiter asks, "Is this seat taken?" You tell your partner, "He asked if that seat was taken." Simple, right?

Use this pattern whenever you recount a conversation. It is perfect for professional debriefs. Imagine explaining a client meeting to your boss. You would report their concerns using whether. It also works for social storytelling. Tell your friends what your crush asked you. It adds a layer of sophistication to your speech. It shows you can handle complex sentence structures. Use it in academic writing to report research questions. It is also vital for diplomatic communication. It softens the directness of a question. This makes you sound more polite and professional.

Do not use if or whether for open questions. If the question starts with Who, What, or Where, stay away. Those questions use the question word as the connector. For example, "Where are you?" becomes "He asked where I was." No if allowed here. Also, avoid this pattern when the question is actually a request. If someone says, "Can you pass the salt?", do not say, "He asked if I could pass the salt." Use an infinitive instead: "He asked me to pass the salt." It sounds much more natural. Finally, do not use it for rhetorical questions. If a teacher asks, "Are you serious?", they aren't looking for a yes/no report.

Many learners keep the question word order. They say, "He asked if was I ready." This sounds a bit clunky. Remember, it is now a statement! Use "He asked if I was ready." Another trap is keeping the do or did. Avoid saying, "She asked if did I like the movie." Just say, "She asked if I liked the movie." Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green means go with statement order. Red means stop using question helpers. Also, be careful with the tense. If the reporting verb is in the past, the rest must follow. Do not leave the second half in the present.

What is the difference between if and whether? In many cases, they are interchangeable. However, whether is the sophisticated older sibling. Use whether when there are two clear options. For example, "I don't know whether to stay or go." Whether also loves the phrase "or not." You can say "whether or not I am invited." If is more common in daily speech. It is quick and easy. However, whether is mandatory after prepositions. You say, "We talked about whether we should move." You cannot use if there. It would sound very strange to a native ear.