reported speech yes or no questions

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Reported Speech Yes/No Questions

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Reported Questions

Reported questions are one form of reported speech .

We usually introduce reported questions with the verb "ask":

• He asked (me) if / whether ... (YES/NO questions)
• He asked (me) why / when / where / what / how ... (question-word questions)

As with reported statements , we may need to change pronouns and tense (backshift) as well as time and place in reported questions.

But we also need to change the word order . After we report a question, it is no longer a question (and in writing there is no question mark). The word order is like that of a normal statement (subject-verb-object).

Reported YES/NO questions

We introduce reported YES/NO questions with ask + if :

Note that in the above example the reported question has no auxiliary "do". But there is pronoun change and backshift.

Note that we sometimes use "whether" instead of "if". The meaning is the same. "Whether" is a little more formal and more usual in writing:

• They asked us if we wanted lunch.
• They asked us whether we wanted lunch.

Reported question-word questions

We introduce reported question-word questions with ask + question word :

Note that in the above example the reported question has no auxiliary "do". But there is pronoun change and backshift.

• YES/NO questions: Do you want tea?
• Question Word questions: Where did you drink tea?
• Choice questions: Do you prefer tea or coffee?

Look at these example sentences:

Reported Questions: Direct and Indirect Questions

In this reference, you’ll learn how to form reported questions in English, covering essential grammar rules and offering useful example sentences. The main sections include how to report Wh and yes/no questions, notes for reported questions, and useful rules and examples.

You’ll explore the details of both yes/no questions and question words  (Wh- questions) in reported speech. This reference will provide you with notes and examples to better grasp the rules of reported speech questions.

Reported Questions

When changing a question from direct speech to indirect speech, use verbs like  inquire ,  wonder ,  want to know , and  ask . Only  ask  can take an indirect object.

• Direct speech:  “ Have you got a computer? ”
• Reported speech:   He  wanted to know  whether I had a computer.

You introduce the reported question with a different word and change the word order to that of a statement. End the sentence with a full stop.

How to Report Wh and Yes/No Questions

Reported speech questions: yes/no questions.

To report yes/no questions, use  if  or  whether .

Use  whether  for choices.

Reported Speech Questions: Questions Words (Wh- Questions)

Report Wh- questions by using the question word.

Mention the person being asked.

• I asked  him  if he ate meat.
• She asked  Michael  when he would go back to Japan.

Notes for Reported Questions

When reporting questions,  the tense of the verb changes . The word order follows an  affirmative sentence , and there is no auxiliary verb. Do not use question marks except in cases like:

• Could you tell me…?
• Do you know…?
• May I ask…?
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How to report WH and Yes/No questions

There are mainly two types of questions – Wh-questions and Yes/No questions.

When we report a Wh-question, we use a reporting verb like asked or enquired.

Study the example given below.

Direct: He said to me, ‘Where do you live?’

Indirect: He asked me where I lived.

Direct: Mother said to me, ‘What are you doing there?’

Indirect: Mother asked me what I was doing there.

When we report a Yes/No question, we use whether or if.

Direct: Suma said to me, ‘Are you interested in this offer?’

Indirect: Suma asked me if I was interested in that offer.

Direct: The teacher said to me, ‘Do you know the answer?’

Indirect: The teacher asked me if / whether I knew the answer.

Direct: Martha said to Susie, ‘Will you trust a guy like Martin?’

Indirect: Martha asked Susie if she would trust a guy like Martin.

Direct: ‘Do you think you know better than your dad?’ the angry mother jeered.

Indirect: The angry mother jeered at her son and asked if he thought that he knew better than his dad.

Change the following direct speech into indirect speech.

1. ‘What do you want?’ he said to her.

2. He said, ‘How’s your mother.’

3. He enquired, ‘When do you intend to pay me?’

4. ‘Do you really come from China?’ the prince asked.

5. ‘Do you speak English?’ he said.

1. He asked her what she wanted.

2. He asked me how my mother was.

3. He enquired when I intended to pay him.

4. The prince asked if I really came from China.

5. He asked if I spoke English.

Reported speech

Reported questions

Reported questions.

When we report what people say, we usually change the tense of the verbs to reflect that we are reporting – not giving direct speech. This pattern is followed when we report questions and there are also other important changes between direct questions and reported questions.

Reported questions are one form of reported speech.

We usually introduce reported questions with the verb "ask":

• He  asked  (me)  if / whether ... (YES/NO questions)
• He  asked  (me)  why / when / where / what / how ... (question-word questions)

As with reported statements, we may need to change  pronouns  and  tense (backshift) as well as  time  and  place  in reported questions.

But we also need to change the  word order . After we report a question, it is no longer a question (and in writing there is no question mark). The word order is like that of a normal statement (subject-verb-object).

Reported YES/NO questions

We introduce reported YES/NO questions with  ask + if :

Note that in the above example the reported question has no auxiliary "do". But there is pronoun change and backshift.

Note that we sometimes use "whether" instead of "if". The meaning is the same. "Whether" is a little more formal and more usual in writing:

• They asked us  if  we wanted lunch.
• They asked us  whether  we wanted lunch.

Reported question-word questions

We introduce reported question-word questions with  ask + question word :

Remember that there are basically three types of question:

• YES/NO questions:  Do you want tea?
• Question Word questions:  Where did you drink tea?
• Choice questions:  Do you prefer tea or coffee?

Reported choice questions  have the same structure as Reported YES/NO questions. Questions with the verb BE always have a different structure:  Was the tea cold? Where is my tea?  You can see all these differences in the examples below.

Look at these example sentences:

Course Curriculum

• Changing time and place in reported speech 20 mins
• Direct and indirect speech 15 mins
• Tense changes in reported speech 20 mins
• Reported questions 20 mins
• Reporting verbs 20 mins
• Reporting orders and requests 15 mins
• Reporting hopes, intentions and promises 20 mins

• Elementary School
• Reading & Speaking
• External Independent Testing
• Grammar Exercises

Reported Yes / No Questions

How to report general (Yes / No) questions

We report questions with the help of the verbs to ask, to wonder, to want to know . In reported questions the subject comes before the verb, as in affirmative sentences. The tenses change in reported questions according to the general rules. We don’t use the auxiliary verbs do, does, did in reported questions. We don’t put a question mark at the end of reported questions. Yes / No questions and alternative Or-questions are reported with the help of the words if , whether .

Direct Yes / No Questions – Reported Yes / No Questions

Study the examples  of reported yes / no questions given below..

• “Are you the captain of the school football team?” the new pupil asked Victor. – The new pupil asked Victor if he was the captain of the school football team.
• “Can you drive?” Oliver asked Alec. – Oliver asked Alec if he could drive.
• “Do you live far from the school?” the teacher asked Yvonne. – The teacher asked Yvonne if she lived far from the school.
• “Have you finished reading my book?” Brian asked Helen. – Brian asked Helen whether she had finished reading his book.
• “Did you have a good journey?” we asked our guests. – We asked our guests if they had had a good journey.
• “Will you be sixteen next July?” the girl asked Greg. – The girl asked Greg if he would be sixteen next July.
• “Has the book been translated into Ukrainian?” I asked the teacher. – I asked the teacher whether the book had been translated into Ukrainian.
• “Would you like to go to a movie?” Jim asked Sally. – Jim asked Sally if she would like to go to a movie.
• Would you mind changing your seat?” I asked the girl next to me. – I asked the girl next to me if she would mind changing her seat.
• “Should I do this exercise again?” Larry asked the teacher. – Larry asked the teacher if he should do the exercise again.
• “Would you go to the movie if John invited you?” I asked Helen. – I asked Helen if she would go to the movie if John invited her.

Reported Alternative Questions

Study the examples..

• “Did you pass your exam or did you fail it?” Ruth asked me. – Ruth asked me whether I had passed my exam or failed it.
• When are you coming to see me, on Saturday or on Sunday?” I asked Marina. – I asked Marina when she was coming to see me, on Saturday or on Sunday.
• “Which teacher is more competent: the new or the former one?” mother asked. – Mother asked me which teacher was more competent the new or the former one.

And now have practice.

Exercise 1. report the questions. don’t forget to use if or whethe r..

• Have they sold the picture? – I didn’t know …
• Do they know anything about it? – I wondered …
• Has Jack given you his telephone number? – She asked me …
• Is he coming back today? – I was not sure …
• Have you found the book? – She asked me …
• Are there any more books here? – The man asked …
• Did she go shopping yesterday? – I wanted to know …
• Has she bought the dictionary? – He didn’t ask her …
• Does she know the name of the man? – I doubted …
• Did Bill see the man this morning? – I asked …

Exercise 2. Report yes / no questions. Write reported Yes / No questions

• I said to Mike: “Have you packed your suitcase?”
• I said to Kate: “Did anybody meet you at the station?”
• I said to her: “Can you give me their address?”
• I asked Tom: “Have you had breakfast?”
• I asked my sister: “Will you stay at home or go for a walk after dinner?”
• I said to my mother: “Did anybody come to see me?”
• I asked my sister: “Will Nick call for you on the way to school?”
• She said to the young man: “Can you call a taxi for me?”
• Mary said to Peter: “Have you shown your photo to Dick?”
• Oliver said to me: “Will you come here tomorrow?”
• He said to us: “Did you go to the museum this morning?”
• I said to Henry: “Does your friend live in London ?”
• I said to the man: “Are you staying in a hotel?”
• Nick said to his friend: “Will you stay at the “Hilton”?”
• He said to me: “Do you often go to see your friends?”
• He said to me: “Will you see your friends before you leave Kyiv ?”
• Mike said to Jane: “Will you come to the station to see me off?
• She said to me: “Have you sent them an email?”
• She said to me: “Did you send them a parcel?”
• Kate said: “Mike, do you like my new dress?”
• My sister said to me: “Will you take me to the theatre with you tomorrow?”
• “Why don’t you play with your friends, Kate?” said her mother.
• “Do you like chocolates?” said my little sister to me.
• “Did you see your granny yesterday, Kathie?” asked Mr. Brown.
• Father said to Nick: “Have you done your homework?”

Exercise 3. Here there are reported yes / no questions. Restore direct speech.

• I asked him if the doctor had given him some medicine.
• I asked him if he was feeling better now.
• I asked the man how long he had been in Oxford.
• I asked him if he was going to a health resort.
• We asked the girl if her father was still in New York City.
• I asked if they had taken the sick man to hospital.
• I asked my friend if he had a headache .
• I wondered if he had taken his temperature.

I hope it’s not difficult for you now to use reported Yes / No questions.

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Reporting Yes/No Questions | Class 10 Reported Speech Worksheet

Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether . Study the examples given below.

The boy asked his mother, 'Is there anything in the fridge?'

The boy asked his mother if there was anything in the fridge .

The teacher asked the students, 'Do you believe in ghosts?'

The teacher asked the students if they believed in ghosts.

Report the following questions.

1. She asked, 'Will you help me?'

2. The stranger asked, 'Do you know where Krishna lives?'

3. She asked, 'May I know the truth?'

4. She asked, 'Have you met my cousin Jay?'

5. The teacher asked the boy, 'Have you paid the fee?'

6. She asked me, 'Would you like to join us?'

7. 'Can you speak English?' the manager asked the candidate.

1. She asked me if I would help her .

2. The stranger asked me if I knew where Krishna lived .

3. She asked if she might know the truth .

4. She asked if I had met her cousin Jay .

5. The teacher asked the boy if he had paid the fee .

6. She asked me if I would like to join them .

7. The manager asked the candidate if he could speak English .

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Question forms and reported speech

Question forms and reported speech.

1.  Normal word order is used in reported questions, that is, the subject comes before the verb, and it is not necessary to use  ‘do’  or  ‘did’ :

• “Where does Peter live?” —>  She asked him  where Peter lived .

2.  Yes / no questions : This type of question is reported by using  ‘ask’ +  ‘if / whether  + clause :

• “Do you speak English?” —-> He asked me  if I spoke English .
• “Are you British or American?” —-> He asked me  whether I was British or American.
• “Is it raining?” —–> She asked  if it was raining .
• “Have you got a computer?” ——> He wanted to know  whether I had a computer .
• “Can you type?” —–> She asked  if I could type .
• “Did you come by train?” ——> He enquired  whether I had come by train .
• “Have you been to Bristol before?” ——>  She asked   if I had been to Bristol before .

3.  Question words :

This type of question is reported by using ‘ask’ (or another verb like ‘ask’) + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.

• “What is your name?” he asked me. —–> He asked me  what my name was .
• “How old is your mother?”, he asked. ——-> He asked  how old her mother was .
• The policeman said to the boy, “Where do you live?” ——->  The policeman asked the boy  where he lived .
• “What time does the train arrive?” she asked. ——-> She asked  what time the train arrived .
• “When can we have dinner?” she asked. ——>  She asked   when they could have dinner .
• Peter said to John, “Why are you so late?” ——-> Peter asked the John  why he was so late .

Note:  See also  Summary of Reporting Verbs

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• English Tests

The Reported speech

Reported speech is not only a crucial grammar concept, but it also allows us to convey messages and share information effectively. By understanding how to form and use reported speech correctly, you can improve your communication skills and become a more confident English speaker. 

TABLE OF CONTENT

What is the reported speech?

Reporting verbs in reported speech, what are the changes in reported speech, verbs and tenses in reported speech, modal verbs in reported speech, time and place indicators in reported speech, pronouns in reported speech, statements in reported speech, wh-questions.

• Yes/no questions

Commands in reported speech

Reported speech is a grammatical construction also commonly  known as indirect speech . We use it to  report what another person has said without directly quoting them . Instead of quotation marks, reported speech uses words and phrases to convey the speaker’s original message differently.

• A speech can be divided into direct and indirect.

Direct speech : “They are building a new school here. “

Indirect speech : He said that they were building a new school there. 

• It can also be divided into :

Statement : “They have just finished the exam“

“What were you doing when they came?“

“Have you finished the exercise?“

Command : “Stop teasing me. “

“You must not smoke here. “

“You needn’t come. “

If the  reporting verb  is in  the present simple, present perfect, or future simple , then we report the sentence as it is. In other words,  we make no changes.

For example: 

Direct speech: “They will move from here next week.“

Indirect speech: He  says/is saying /will say  that they will move from here next week.

But if the reporting verb is in simple past , then specific changes are necessary. These changes affect:

• Pronouns ( I, you …. My, your …., mine, their …..)
• Time indicators ( yesterday, tomorrow, now, next ……)
• Place indicators ( here, there, this place …..)

NB: These changes occur when the reporting verb is in simple past, and we apply them to statements, questions, and commands.

When we report what someone said, there are specific changes that have to be made. We must adjust  verb tenses ,  pronouns ,  time and place indicators , and  word order .

Verbs and modal verbs in reported speech

• Direct: present Simple: “I  love  pizza,” she said.
• Indirect: past simple: She said that she  loved  pizza.
• Direct: present continuous: “I  am watching  a movie,” she said.
• Indirect: past continuous: She said that she  was watching  a movie.
• Direct: present perfect: “I  have eaten  breakfast,” she said.
• Indirect: past perfect: She said that she  had eaten  breakfast.
• Direct: past simple: “I  visited  Paris last year,” he said.
• Indirect: past perfect: He said he  had visited  Paris the previous year.
• Direct: past continuous: “I  was studying  for three hours,” she said.
• Indirect: past perfect continuous: She said she  had been studying  for three hours.
• Direct: past perfect: “I  had  already  eaten ,” he said.
• Indirect: past perfect: He said that he  had  already  eaten .
• Direct: will: “I  will  call you tomorrow,” she said.
• Indirect: Would: She said she  would  call me the next day.
• Direct: can: “I  can  speak French,” he said.
• Indirect: could: He said that he  could  speak French.
• Direct: may: “I  may  be late,” he said
• Indirect: might: He said that he  might  be late.
• Direct: must/have to: “I  must  leave,” he said
• Indirect: had to: He said that he  had to  leave. 
• Direct: Today: “I’m busy  today ,” she said.
• Indirect: That day: She said that she was busy  that day .
• Direct: Yesterday: “I went to the store  yesterday ,” he said.
• Indirect: The day before/the previous day: He said that he had gone to the store  the day before/the previous day .
• Direct: The day before yesterday: “I saw him  the day before yesterday ,” she said.
• Indirect: Two days before: She said that she had seen him  two days before .
• Direct: Tomorrow: “I will see you  tomorrow ,” he said.
• Indirect: The next/following/coming day: He said he would see me  the next day/the following day/the coming day .
• Direct: The day after tomorrow: “I will meet you  the day after tomorrow ,” she said.
• Indirect: In two days’ time: She said she would meet me  in two days’ time .
• Direct: Next week, year…: “I am traveling to New York  next  week,” he said.
• Indirect: The following week, year…: He said he was traveling to New York  the following  week.
• Direct: Last week, year…: “I went to Hawaii  last year ,” she said.
• Indirect: The previous week, year …: She said she had gone to Hawaii  the previous year .
• Direct: A day/weak/month/year… ago: “I saw him a  week ago ,” she said.
• Indirect: A day before / the previous week: She said she had seen him  a week before .
• Direct: Here: “I am  here ,” she said.
• Indirect: There: She said that she was  there .
• Direct: This place/city: “I love  this  city,” he said.
• Indirect: That place/city …: He said he loved  that  city.

The changing of pronouns depends on who is speaking. Notice the two examples below:

“ I am not leaving with you, ” Katherine said to her.

Suppose that Katherine reported her statement. Then:

I  said to  her  that  I  was not leaving with  her.

But  suppose that Bill reported Katherine’s statement then:

Bill  said that  she  was not leaving with  her.

When reporting statements, we need to change the tense of the original statement and use appropriate reporting verbs and reporting clauses. Here is an example of how we can report a statement in a reported speech:

• Direct speech:  “ I saw her the day before yesterday, here, “ he said
• Indirect speech:   he said he had seen her two days before, there.

We can report statements similarly by changing verb tenses and using appropriate reporting verbs and clauses. Other examples of reporting verbs that we can use include “told,” “informed,” “mentioned,” “explained,” “noted,” “pointed out,” and “asserted.” The choice of reporting verb depends on the context and the meaning we want to convey.

Questions in reported speech

When reporting  questions , we can use  two types:   Wh-questions  and  yes/no . Wh-questions begin with a wh-word, like what, where, when, why, or how. Yes/no questions, on the other hand, require a simple yes or no answer. But  both  of them share this structure:  Verb+subject .

These are questions that begin with a wh-word: what, where ….

• Direct speech:  “Where is she going?”
• Indirect speech : She asked where she was going.

Notice:  Verb+subject  becomes  subject+verb , and the question mark is omitted.

The interrogative form of the verb becomes affirmative :

Where is she => where she was.

Yes/no questions 

These are questions whose answers are either yes or no.

• Direct speech:  “Will you participate in the ceremony?” Kamal asked me
• Indirect speech : he wondered if/whether if/whether I would participate in the ceremony.

Will you participate => I would participate

• Direct speech: “Revise your lessons,” the mother told her son.
• Indirect speech : The mother  ordered  her son  to revise  his lessons.
• Direct speech: “Don’t smoke here, “ said the doctor
• In Direct speech:  he  ordered  him  not to smoke  there

Notice: In the indirect speech 

Affirmative: reporting verb + pronoun + to verb (infinitive)

Negative: reporting verb + pronoun + not + to verb (infinitive)

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Verbs not used in the continuous

Download Vocabulary Grammar PowerPoints PPTs

Conditional and Wishes

am i wrong or there i alittle mistake (kathrine instead of bill) nice work by the way

yes i think it’s kathrine

Thanks you teatcher nabil

it is really of great help thanks for the enormous effort

My pleasure 😀

Thank you sir.

Don’t mention it 🙂

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Reported Yes/‌No questions — Exercise 3