Reported Questions with Question Words

Direct questions are like a flashlight. They point directly at the answer. Reported questions are more like a soft lamp. They provide context and background information. When you report a question, it stops being a question. It transforms into a statement about a question. This is the most important part to remember. Because it is now a statement, the grammar changes. We lose the question mark and the rising intonation. We also lose the auxiliary verbs do, does, and did. These are only for direct questions. In reported speech, they just get in the way. It is like removing training wheels from a bicycle. You are ready for the real deal now. You just need to keep the wh- word. That word acts as the anchor for the whole sentence.

1. 1Start with a reporting verb like asked or wondered.
2. 2Keep the original question word such as where or why.
3. 3Switch the word order to Subject + Verb.
4. 4Move the verb tense one step into the past.
5. 5Change pronouns to match the new speaker's perspective.
6. 6Update time and place words like now to then.
7. 7Remove the auxiliary verbs do, does, or did entirely.
8. 8End the sentence with a period, not a question mark.

Use this when summarizing a business meeting for your boss. It shows you understood the key points of the discussion. Use it during job interviews to clarify what was asked. "I was asked why I wanted to leave my role." Use it when recounting directions you received while traveling. It helps keep the story organized and easy to follow. Use it when writing formal reports or academic papers. It adds a layer of professional distance to your writing. Use it when being polite or indirect with someone. Sometimes a direct question feels too aggressive or blunt. Reporting a question can soften the tone of the conversation. It makes you sound like a diplomat, not a prosecutor.

Don't use it if you are quoting someone exactly. Use quotation marks for direct speech instead. "He asked, 'Where is my coffee?'" is perfectly fine. Don't use it if the question is still current. Sometimes we keep the present tense if the fact remains true. "She asked where the station is" works if it's still there. Don't use it in very casual, fast-paced text messages. Often, a direct quote is faster and clearer for friends. "He's like, 'Where are you?'" is common in casual speech. Don't use it if you are using an indirect question. "Can you tell me where the bank is?" is different. That is a polite request, not a report of the past.

The most common error is keeping the question order. People often say, "He asked where was the hotel." Wrong. It must be, "He asked where the hotel was." Do not forget the tense shift, also known as backshifting. "She asked why he is late" should be "was late." Avoid the "do" trap at all costs. Never say, "He asked what did I want." It should be, "He asked what I wanted." Removing the auxiliary verb is a common hurdle for learners. Another mistake is adding a question mark at the end. Remember, it is a statement now, so use a period. Don't use if or whether with wh- question words. Those are only for "Yes/No" questions, not these specific ones.

Compare this with "Yes/No" reported questions using if. "He asked if I was hungry" has no question word. Our current pattern always uses words like how or when. Contrast it with indirect questions used for politeness. "I wonder where she is" is a current thought. "I wondered where she was" is a report of the past. They look similar but serve very different purposes in speech. Also, look at noun clauses starting with that. Those don't work for questions, only for reporting statements. You cannot say, "He asked that where I lived." That is a messy mix of two different grammar rules. Keep your question words and your statements separate and clean.