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Direct and Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences (2025)

Direct and Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences into statements, maintaining proper punctuation and grammatical rules has been discussed in the following. Explore how to use reporting verbs , change word order , and use appropriate tone to convey the meaning of the original question for the direct indirect speech of interrogative sentences.

Introduction to Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed within quotation marks. On the other hand, indirect speech, also known as reported speech, reports what someone else has said without using their exact words. Instead, it paraphrases or summarizes the original statement.

Understanding Interrogative Sentences

An interrogative sentence is a type of sentence that asks a question and requires an answer. We form interrogative sentences by using an auxiliary verb and subject-verb inversion. For example:

• “Do you like pizza?”
• “What is your name?”
• “Where do you live?” etc.

We use these sentences to gather information, express curiosity, or initiate a conversation.

Direct and Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences can be identified by their question structure and the use of question words such as “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” “who,” “whose,” “which,” “how,” etc. Interrogative sentences can also be recognized by using question marks (?) at the end of the sentence.

Direct Speech Introduction

In direct narration, reported speech is introduced with an auxiliary verb or a question word.

For example:

(a) Auxiliary Verb Introduction

• He said to me, “Are you ill?”
• He said to me, “Have you done it?”

(b) Question Word Introduction

• The teacher said to me, “Why are you late?”
• You said to me, “How do you do?”

Ending with a Note of Interrogation

In direct speech, the sentence normally ends with a note of interrogation or (?) .

People also ask

Rules for Direct to Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences

Study the following rules on how to change direct speech to indirect speech of Interrogative sentences with proper reporting verbs, change word order, and punctuation marks.

Rule 1: Identification of Reported Speech in Direct Narration

The first thing to remember, find out which kind of sentence it is in the quotation mark or inverted commas under direct narration.

For example,

From the example provided above, we observe that the sentence “Have you done it?” is enclosed within quotation marks or inverted commas in direct narration and begins with a question mark. Hence, we can identify it as an interrogative sentence.

Next, we need to introduce the appropriate rules for transforming direct speech into indirect speech for interrogative sentences.

Direct: He said to me, ‘ Will you go there?’ Indirect: He asked me if I would go there.

Direct: I said to him, ‘ How did you enjoy the movie?’ Indirect: I asked him how he had enjoyed the movie.

Direct: “ Are you coming to the party?” Indirect: She asked if I was coming to the party.

Direct: “ Did you finish your homework?” Indirect: He wanted to know if I had finished my homework.

Direct: “ Have you seen my keys?” Indirect: She wondered if I had seen her keys.

Direct : “ Could you lend me some money?” Indirect: He asked if I could lend him some money.

Direct: “ Where is the nearest post office?” Indirect: He asked where the nearest post office was.

Direct: “ When did they arrive?” Indirect: She wondered when they had arrived.

Direct: “ Why did you leave so early?” Indirect: The boss asked why I had left so early.

Direct: “ Whose book is this?” Indirect: He wanted to know whose book that was.

Rule 2: Changes of Reporting Verb Direct and Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences

In Indirect Narration, interrogative Verbs such as “ ask ”, “ enquire ”, “ demand ”, “ want to know ” etc are used as reporting Verbs before the reported Speech in place of simple verbs “ say ” or “ tell ”.

Direct: “Are you coming to the party?” she asked. Indirect: She asked if I was coming to the party.

Direct: “Do you need any help?” he enquired . Indirect : He enquired if I needed any help.

Direct: “Where is the nearest ATM?” she wanted to know. Indirect: She wanted to know where the nearest ATM was.

Direct: “Why didn’t you attend the meeting?” they demanded. Indirect: They asked why I hadn’t attended the meeting.

Direct: “Will you be able to finish the project on time?” he asked. Indirect: He asked if I would be able to finish the project on time.

Direct: “Are they arriving tomorrow?” she asked. Indirect: She asked if they were arriving the next day.

Direct: “Have you seen my keys?” he wanted to know. Indirect: He wanted to know if I had seen his keys.

Direct: “Did you complete the assignment?” she asked. Indirect: She asked if I had completed the assignment.

Direct: “Can you help me with this problem?” he enquired. Indirect: He enquired if I could help him with that problem.

Direct: “How long will the journey take?” she asked. Indirect: She asked how long the journey would take.

Direct: He said to me, ‘When will the down train arrive?’ Indirect: He inquired of me when the down train would arrive.

Direct: I said to him, ‘Where is the post office?’ Indirect: I wanted to know where the post office was.

Rule 3: Interrogative sentences with Yes/No answers (non ‘wh-word’) Examples

If the reported speech in Direct Narration is introduced by Verbs like “ be ”, “ have ”, “and do ”, or any other auxiliary Verbs like “ can ”, “ shall ”, or “ will ”, or (in a simpler way, the Questions that can be answered by Yes , or No ,) the connective “ if ”, “ whether ” is used after the reporting verb or object of the reporting verb in the Indirect Narration.

Direct: I asked him, ‘ Have you eaten the cake?’

Indirect: I asked him if/whether he had eaten the cake.

Direct: He asked the boy, ‘ Did you pass the exam?’

Indirect: He asked the boy if/whether he had passed the exam.

Direct: She said, “ Did you finish the report?” Indirect: She asked if I had finished the report.

Direct: He said, “ Are you going to the concert?” Indirect: He inquired whether I was going to the concert.

Direct: The manager said, “ Will she be attending the meeting?” Indirect: The manager wanted to know if she would be attending the meeting.

Direct: Thet said, “ Have they decided on a location?” Indirect: They asked if a location had been decided on.

Direct: She said, “ Can you help me with this assignment?” Indirect: She wondered if I could help her with the assignment.

Rule 4: Interrogative sentences with ‘wh-word’

If the Reported Speech in Direct Narration is introduced by interrogative pronouns ( who , which ) interrogative adjectives ( what , how much ), or interrogative adverbs ( why, when, where, how ), we can not use the conjunction if ( or whether ). Instead, the Wh-Word with which the reported speech of direct narration begins replaces the ‘ if’ or ‘ whether ‘ by that Wh-Word in indirect narration .

Direct: I said to him, ‘ When will you do it?’

Indirect: I asked him when he would do it.

Direct: He said to her, ‘ What is your name?’

Indirect: He asked her what her name was.

Direct: He said to her, ‘ Whose type-writer are you using?’

Indirect: He inquired of her whose type-writer she was using.

Direct: Father said, ‘ Where have you been so long in the sun, my son?’

Indirect: Father inquired of the son where he had been so long in the sun.

Direct: The king said, ‘ Who is not ready to die for his land, my countrymen?’

Indirect: The king asked his countrymen who were not ready to die for his land.

Rule 5: Change of Punctuation Mark in Indirect speech of Interrogative sentence.

We have to change The Interrogative Form of the Reported Speech in Direct Narration into a Statement or Assertive Sentence in Indirect Narration . At the end of the sentence of Indirect Narration, we must use a full stop ( . ) instead of a question mark ( ? ). So, in Indirect Narration, the Reported Speech will start with the Subject, then the Verb, and then others.

Direct: He said to me, ‘Did you write to me before ?’

Indirect: He asked me if I had written to him before .

Direct: He said to you, ‘Can you tell me your address?’

Indirect: He asked you if you could tell him your address.

Direct: She said to him, ‘Will you help me lift this luggage?’

Indirect: She asked him if he would help her lift that luggage.

Rule 6: Interrogative Sentences with Modals in Indirect Speech

An Interrogative Sentence beginning with “ Shal l” in the Direct Narration, takes the form “ would ” in the Past Tense in the Indirect Narration. We use “should” only when the statement is a Polite question or involves or implies a matter of propriety or duty.

Direct: He said to me, ‘ Shall we reach the village before dawn ?’

Indirect: He asked me if they would reach the village before dawn .

Direct: They said, ‘ Shall we contribute to the Poor Fund?’

Indirect: They asked if they should contribute to the Poor Fund. [ polite question ]

Direct: Ridhi said to me, ‘Could I be of any help to you?’

Indirect: Ridhi asked me if I could be of any help to her.

Rule 7: Direct to Indirect Speech with Tag Questions

Sentence with Question Tags: Sometimes an Interrogative sentence is formed in the Direct Narration by adding some Interrogative Tags to an Assertive sentence.

In Indirect Narration, the tag is omitted after the meaning of the sentence(Affirmation or Negation) has been guessed from it. Sometimes different verbs such as “ think ”, “ hope ”, “ believe ”, and “ ask ” may be used to express that idea in an Indirect Form.

Direct: Robert said, ‘John is a good boy, isn’t it ?’

Indirect: Robert said that he thought that John was a good boy .

Direct: Robin said, ‘The captain did not agree to go, did he?’

Indirect: Robin said that believed that the captain had not agreed to go.

Direct: The teacher said to the boy, ‘You will do the job, won’t you?’

Indirect: The teacher told the boy that he hoped he (the boy) would do the job.

Direct: He said, ‘You are going to market, aren’t you?’

Indirect: He asked me if it was true that I was going to market.

Rule 8: Changes in Persons for Interrogative Sentences

Get the rules on how to make Changes in Persons in indirect narration on the previous page under the General Rules section.

When transforming interrogative sentences from direct to indirect speech, there are changes in the persons involved. Here’s how these changes occur:

Table: Changes in Persons

First Person:

Direct: She asked, “Can I help you?” Indirect: She asked if she could help me.

Second Person:

Direct: He asked me , “Are you coming?” Indirect: He asked if I was coming.

Third Person:

Direct: They asked, “Is she okay?” Indirect: They asked if she was okay.

Rule 9: Change the Tense of Reporting Verb for Interrogative Sentences

Study the rules to change the tense of the Reporting Verb in Indirect Narration and the Verb of the reported speech in indirect narration by going to the above link which is the General Rules section on the previous page.

When converting interrogative sentences from direct to indirect speech, not only the tense of the reporting verb changes, but also its form. Here’s how the tense and forms of the reporting verb are altered:

Table: Change of Tense and Forms

Present Simple:

Direct: He asked, “Do you like ice cream?” Indirect: He asked if I liked ice cream.

Present Continuous:

Direct: She asked, “ Are you watching TV?” Indirect: She asked if I w as watching TV.

Present Perfect:

Direct: They asked, “ Have you finished your homework?” Indirect: They asked if I had finished my homework.

Past Simple:

Direct: He asked, “ Did you enjoy the movie?” Indirect: He asked if I e njoyed the movie.

Past Continuous:

Direct: She asked, “ Were you studying all night?” Indirect: She asked if I had been studying all night.

Some Work Out Examples: Interrogative Sentences Direct Indirect Speech:

Note carefully the Changes in Interrogative Sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.

Direct: I said to the boy, “Did you go to school?”

Indirect: I asked (enquired of) the boy if he had gone to school.

Direct: “Is not poverty a curse?” my father said to me.

Indirect: My father asked me if poverty was (is) not a curse.

Direct: “Are you weeping?” he asked her.

Indirect: He asked her if she was weeping.

Direct: “Have you brought a pen for me?” the girl said to her father.

Indirect: The girl asked her father if he had brought a pen for her.

Direct: “Can you see a woman seated at a table?” he asked her.

Indirect: He asked her if she could see a woman seated at a table.

Direct: Persome said, “Marie, isn’t the soup boiling yet?”

Indirect: Persome asked Marie if the soup was not boiling by that time.

Direct: “Would you sing for our visitors?” my mother said to my sister.

Indirect: My mother asked my sister if she would sing for our visitors.

Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing ?”

Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.

Direct: He said to me, “When will you go home ?”

Indirect: He enquired of me when I would go home.

Direct: You said to me, “Why have you failed ?”

Indirect: You asked me why I had failed.

Direct: He said to me, “Who has gone to the sea ?”

Indirect: He asked me who had gone to the sea.

Exam Questions Answers 2024:

Direct: Reba said, “Which book is mine ?”

Indirect: Reba asked which book was hers.

Direct: He said to me, “When will the down train arrive ?”

Indirect: He inquired of me when the down train would arrive.

Direct: Mina said, “Why must I stay ?”

Indirect: Mina asked why she must stay.

Direct: He said, “Where is the post office?”

Indirect: He wanted to know where the post office was.

Direct: He said, “How will the Sherpa climb the peak ?”

Indirect: He wondered how the Sherpa would climb the peak.

Direct: She said to me, “Maya can’t speak Hindi, can she”?

Indirect: She told me that she didn’t think Maya could speak Hindi.

Direct: Amal said, “They will not go, will they”?

Indirect: Amal hoped they would not go.

Direct: He said to me, “You are going to the playground, aren’t you?”

Indirect: He asked me whether it was true that I was going to the playground.

Solved Worksheet

Change the following sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech:

1. Ram said to his friends, “Do you want to go to Kolkata with me ?”

2.”Shall we send it to your flat ?” he said.

3. Rina said to Samir, “Are you going today ?”

4. Pradeep said to me, “When will you go home ?”

5. “Whom do you want ?” he said to her.

6. He said to Rita “How is your father ?”

7. “Who told you about my success ?” she said to her friend.

8. The lady said to the man, “May I park my car here ?”

9. “Who has dared to wound you ?” cried the Giant.

10. The workers said to the manager, “When do you like to talk to us ?”

11. The poor woman said, “Will none of you help me today ?”

12. “Can you find your way home ? said I to the little boy.

13. “Which way did you see the thief go ?” asked the policeman.

14. He said to the girl, “Don’t you know my sister ?”

Report the following into Indirect Speech

Turn the following sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech

1. “Have you anything to say on behalf of the prisoner ?”. said the judge to the lawyers.

2. The traveller said, “Are you really telling me the truth ?”

3. He said to the strangers, “Who are you ?”

4. Sanat said to Debu, “Where have you kept my pen ?”

5. She said to the boy, “What are you doing here ?”

6. He said, “What do you want ?”

7. He said to John, “Why are you shouting ?”

8. “Who is our master ?” asked William Tell.

9. Babu said to the stranger, “Who are you?”

10. Pompi said, “Which of the pens do you need ?”

11. “Where do you live”, he asked

Frequently asked questions

1. q: what is an example of direct and indirect speech of an interrogative sentence.

Ans: Interrogative sentence Direct Speech Example: I said to the boy, “Did you go to school?”

Interrogative sentence Indirect Speech Example: I asked (enquired of) the boy if he had gone to school.

2. Q: What is an example of an interrogative sentence indirect?

Ans: interrogative sentence indirect: My father asked me if poverty was (is) not a curse.

3. Q: What is an example of a direct speech for an interrogative sentence?

Ans: Interrogative sentence Direct Speech: “Is not poverty a curse?” my father said to me.

4. Q: What are 10 examples of interrogative?

What is your name? How old are you? Why have you done this? When will you go? Which shirt do you like? Whose car is this? Whom do you prefer most? Have you done this before? Did you notice that? Will he make it?

5. Q: What are the 7 interrogative words?

Ans: What, When, Who, Whose, Whom, How, Why.

Related Posts:

Interrogative Sentences Explained

Ever found yourself puzzled by interrogative sentences? You’re not alone.

Interrogative sentences, or question sentences, are a vital part of our daily communication. They help us gather information, express curiosity, and engage in meaningful conversations.

But what exactly are they? How do we form them correctly? And what are the different types of interrogative sentences?

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of interrogative sentences. We’ll explore:

The purpose of interrogative sentences

The structure of interrogative sentences, rules for forming interrogative sentences, types of interrogative sentences, common mistakes and tips.

So, ready to unravel the mystery of interrogative sentences? Let’s dive in!

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What are interrogative sentences?

Interrogative sentences, simply put, are questions. They’re sentences that seek to gather information, clarify a point, or start a conversation.

They often start with a question word like who, what, where, when, wh y, or how . Alternatively, they can begin with a helping verb for yes/no questions. Regardless of their form, all interrogative sentences share a common trait: They end with a question mark .

Interrogative sentences serve a crucial role in our everyday communication. They allow us to gather information, clarify misunderstandings, and engage in meaningful conversations.

Whether we’re asking for directions, seeking advice, or simply sparking a chat, interrogative sentences are our go-to tool. They’re not just about asking questions, they’re about connecting with others and understanding the world around us.

Interrogative sentences have a unique structure that sets them apart. They often start with a question word or a helping verb . This is followed by the subject and then the main verb.

For example, in the question “What is your name?”, What is the question word, is is the helping verb, your is the subject, and name is the main verb. This structure helps us identify the sentence as a question.

However, not all interrogative sentences follow this pattern. Some start directly with the subject, especially in informal speech. For instance, “You’re going where?” Here, the subject You comes first, followed by the verb are going and the question word where .

Understanding the structure of interrogative sentences is key to forming correct questions. Let’s delve deeper into the different types of interrogative sentences.

Yes/no questions

Yes/no questions are the simplest type of interrogative sentences. They require a simple “yes” or “no” answer. These questions usually start with a helping verb like do, is, are, can , or will .

For example, “Do you like to write?” or “Can you swim?” Here, the helping verb comes first, followed by the subject and the main verb. This structure is typical for yes/no questions.

“Wh-” questions

“Wh-” questions are a bit more complex. They start with a “wh-” question word like who, what, where, when, why , or how . These questions seek more detailed responses than just “yes” or “no”.

For instance, “Where do you live?” or “Why are you late?” Here, the question word comes first, followed by the helping verb, the subject, and the main verb. This structure helps us gather more specific information.

Alternative questions

Alternative questions offer choices in their structure. They’re like yes/no questions but with more than two possible answers. These questions usually contain or in the middle to indicate the choices.

For example, ‘Would you like tea or coffee?” or “Are you going by bus or train?” Here, the structure starts with a helping verb, followed by the subject, the main verb, and the choices separated by or .

Tag questions

Tag questions are unique. They’re statements turned into questions by adding a question tag at the end. The tag is a mini-question that we attach to the end of a sentence.

For instance, “You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?” or “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” Here, the statement comes first, followed by the question tag. This structure is used to confirm or check something we believe to be true.

Rhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions are special because they don’t require an answer. They’re used to make a point or to persuade rather than to gather information.

For example, “Who do you think you are?” or “How could I possibly forget?” These questions are more about expressing feelings or thoughts than seeking answers. They add drama or emphasis to our speech or writing.

Forming interrogative sentences involves a few key rules. These rules revolve around the order of words, the use of auxiliary verbs , and the correct punctuation and intonation.

Understanding these rules is crucial for asking clear and effective questions . Let’s take a closer look at each of these rules.

Subject-verb inversion

One of the main rules in forming interrogative sentences is subject-verb inversion . This means the verb often comes before the subject.

For example, in the question “Are you ready?” Are (verb) comes before you (subject). This inversion clearly signals that we’re dealing with a question.

Use of auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs play a key role in interrogative sentences. They’re used to form questions in different tenses.

For instance, “Do you like ice cream?” (present simple), “Did you see that?” (past simple), or “Will you come to the party?” (future simple). The auxiliary verbs do , did , and will help form the questions.

Punctuation and intonation

Punctuation and intonation are also important in interrogative sentences. Questions always end with a question mark.

In spoken English, the intonation usually rises at the end of a question. This helps signal to the listener that a response is expected.

Interrogative sentences come in various types. Each type serves a different purpose and requires a specific response.

Understanding these types can help you ask more effective questions. It can also improve your comprehension when you’re on the receiving end of a question.

Let’s examine some of the main types of interrogative sentences: direct and indirect questions and open-ended and closed questions.

Direct vs. indirect questions

Direct questions are straightforward. They ask for specific information and usually start with a question word or an auxiliary verb. For example, “Where is the library?” or “Do you like pizza?”

Indirect questions, on the other hand, are more polite and formal and are often used in professional or formal settings. An example of an indirect question is, “Could you tell me where the library is?”

Open-ended vs. closed questions

Open-ended questions allow for a wide range of responses. They often start with what, how , or why . An example is “What do you think about the new policy?”

Closed questions, in contrast, limit the response to a yes or no , or a very short piece of information. For instance, “Do you like the new policy?” is a closed question.

When forming interrogative sentences, it’s easy to make mistakes. These can lead to confusion or miscommunication.

One common error is forgetting to invert the subject and verb. For example, “You are going where?” should be “Where are you going?” Another mistake is forgetting to use the correct auxiliary verb. For instance, “Do you can swim?” should be “Can you swim?”

To avoid these mistakes, use Grammarly’s free AI-powered sentence checker to check for mistakes and polish your writing. It can quickly check your sentence structure, make sure you’ve used the right auxiliary verb, and catch other grammar and spelling errors.

Understanding interrogative sentences is key to effective communication. They help us gather information, engage in meaningful conversations, and express curiosity. By mastering the rules and structures of interrogative sentences, you can enhance your English language skills and navigate various social, academic, and professional settings with ease.

English With Ashish

Interrogative sentences in reported speech: rules and examples

Hey learners! In this post, we will master how to change direct speech to indirect speech when the reported speech in the direct speech is an interrogative sentence. Before we do that, we must know what direct and indirect speech is.

What is a direct speech?

• Important things to understand:

Process/steps of changing Interrogative sentences (reported speech) into indirect speech:

Direct speech definition: It is a way to narrate what someone said using the speaker’s exact words. The reported speech (the speaker’s words) is placed in quotation marks and is offset using a comma.

What is an indirect speech?

Indirect speech definition: it is a way to narrate what someone said but not using the speaker’s exact words. Unlike a direct speech, it is not placed in quotation marks and separated by a comma.

Direct speech: She said to me, “Do you love me?” Indirect speech: She told me if I loved her.

Important things to understand :

1. Directing speech: It is the part (clause) that you (the person who narrates the speaker’s original words) say. In the above examples, “She said to me” and “She told me” are reporting speeches. These are the parts the narrator of the reported speech says.

2. Directed speech: it is the part that comes from the original speaker. In the above examples, “ Do you love me? “ and “ if I loved her “ are reported speeches.

Interrogative sentences in the reported speech

Interrogative sentence definition: Sentences that are used to ask questions are called interrogative sentences. They end with a question mark.

There are two types of interrogative sentences:

• Ones that can be answered in YES or NO .
• Ones that can not be answered in YES or NO . They need to be explained.
• Direct speech : My uncle said to me, “What are you studying?”
• Direct speech : She asked me, “Do you still love me?”
• Indirect speech: My uncle asked me what I was studying.
• Indirect speech: She asked me if I still loved her .

NOTE : Interrogative sentences in direct speech are changed into assertive sentences.

• Remove the quotation marks and the comma from the reported speech.
• Put the question word (WH family word) at the beginning of the reported speech when the question can’t be answered in YES or NO. If the question can be answered in YES/NO, replace the helping verb (auxiliary) with IF or WHETHER.
• Put the subject of the reported speech after it.
• Put the verb after the subject.
• Replace the question mark with a period/full stop.
• The reporting verb SAY in the direct speech is changed into ASK/INQUIRE.

NOTE : Interrogative sentences that can be answered in YES/NO start with auxiliary verbs (is/am/are/do/does/has/have/will/shall/can/could/may/might/should/would…). And interrogative sentences that can’t be answered in simple YES/NO start with WH family words (what/why/where/when/how/who/whom).

Direct speech structure : Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + subject complement? Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + object/modifier?

Indirect speech structure : If/whether + subject + main verb + subject complement. If/whether + subject + main verb + object/modifier.

• Direct speech: I asked her, “Will you go out with me?” Indirect speech: I asked her if/whether she would go out with me.
• Direct speech: The guy on the street said to me, ” Do you know whom you are messing with?” Indirect speech: The guy on the street asked me if I knew whom I was messing with.
• Direct speech: On the very first date, she asked me, “Have you kissed a girl?” Indirect speech: On the very first date, she asked me if I had kissed a girl.
• Direct speech: The other night, Jon asked me, “Are you taking drugs?” Indirect speech: The other night, Jon asked me if I was taking drugs.
• Direct speech: She said, “Can you kiss me right now?” Indirect speech: She asked if I could kiss her right then.

In the indirect speech of the reported part, we replace the auxiliary verb with IF or WHETHER . The subject is put before the verb so that the interrogative sentence changes into an assertive sentence.

All these questions can be answered in YES/NO. If the questions can’t be answered in YES/NO, don’t use if/whether . Let’s look at the following examples:

Direct speech structure : WH family word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + object/modifier (optional)?

Indirect speech structure : WH family word + subject + main verb + object/modifier.

• Direct speech: The police asked, “What were you doing when the incident happened?” Indirect speech: The police asked what I had been doing when the incident had happened .
• Direct speech: He said, “What can I do for you?” Indirect speech: He asked what he could do for me.
• Direct speech: Ron asked my father, “What do you do?” Indirect speech: Ron asked my father what he did.
• Direct speech: She said to us, “What do you think of yourselves?” Indirect speech: She asked us what we thought of ourselves.
• Direct speech: My brother asked, “Who is that girl?” Indirect speech: My brother asked who that girl was.

Now, we know how to change an interrogative sentence into a reported speech. Feel free to share your question, doubt, or feedback in the comment section, and also, share the post with the people that need it.

For one-on-one classes, contact me at  [email protected] .

Ashish Sharma

Ashish found his first love—the English language—a few years back. Since then, he has been immersed in the language, breaking down the language and teaching it to passionate English learners. He has a flair for listening to the English language (podcasts, sitcoms, stories), observing the nuances, and making it easy for English learners. He is known for breaking down complex English topics and making them easy to be understood.

15 thoughts on “Interrogative sentences in reported speech: rules and examples”

Sir in the Wh-question u make wrong indirect speech . Ex.1 The police asked, “what were you doing when the incident happened..? ” Ans-The police asked what I had been doing when the incident had happened.. Plz check this ex if I will wrong then plz tell me where I was wrong…

Hello, Ritesh! Yes, I had forgotten to change the subject of the clause from YOU to I. Thank you for pointing out the mistake!

Sunil said to Sunita, “What was the theme of the story?”

Sunil asked Sunita what the theme of the story was.

Sunita asked sunil that what was the theme of the story. Is it correct or not

It’s not. Correction: Sunita asked Sunil what the theme of the story was. 1) We don’t use two conjunctions together. We can’t. 2) A noun clause does not take a question structure (use inversion in it).

Can it not be, Sunil asked Sunita what had been the theme of the story.

That’s grammatical incorrect. A verb or a verb phrase can’t come before the subject in a dependent clause. Also, the right verb tense of the reported speech is the Simple Past tense.

“Be not so amazed, daughter Miranda”,said Prospero. change this.

That’s not a question.

Calling Miranda as his daughter Prospero forbade/advised her not to be amazed.

the gate keeper said,” who made this mess?”

The gatekeeper asked whom that mess had been made by.

He said to me,” do you know him kiran”.

He asked if me I knew him/kiran.

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Interrogative Sentence

What is an interrogative sentence, the word "interrogative".

Table of Contents

Examples of Interrogative Sentences

The three types of interrogative sentence, (1) yes/no question, (2) "question word" question, (3) choice question, real-life examples of interrogative sentences, forming the three question types, other sentence types, video lesson.

• Has anyone seen my torch?
• What's the capital of Peru?
• Shall we ask Simon or Jonesy?
• Is it possible to succeed without any act of betrayal? (Film director Jean Renoir)
• Why do I crave everything when I'm dieting? (Reality star Kim Kardashian)
• Do you want to feel good or to do good? (Singer Ted Nugent)

Forming Yes/No Questions

Forming "Question Word" Questions

Forming Choice Questions

• Declarative sentences , which make statements
• Imperative sentences , which give commands
• Exclamatory sentences , which express emotions

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

Why Interrogative Sentences Are Important

(reason 1) don't use a question mark after a non-question. (beware indirect questions).

(Reason 2) Use a rhetorical question to raise a subject.

• When are you ever settled enough to have kids? (Actor Benedict Cumberbatch)
• Is the Loch Ness monster dead?
• Don't use a question mark after a statement that contains an indirect question.
• You can use a question as an interesting way to make a point.
• What's not to like?
• You can use a question as an interesting way to introduce an idea.
• Were some of moon-landing photos faked?

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• Interrogative Sentence (question)

Is it safe? Dr Szell, Marathon Man

Interrogative sentences are one of the four sentence types ( declarative , interrogative, imperative , exclamative ).

Interrogative sentences ask questions .

What is the form of an interrogative sentence?

The typical form (structure) of an interrogative sentence is:

If we use a WH- word it usually goes first:

The final punctuation is always a question mark ( ? ).

Interrogative sentences can be in positive or negative form, and in any tense .

What is the function of an interrogative sentence?

The basic function (job) of an interrogative sentence is to ask a direct question . It asks us something or requests information (as opposed to a statement which tells us something or gives information). Interrogative sentences require an answer. Look at these examples:

• Is snow white? (answer → Yes. )
• Why did John arrive late? (answer → Because the traffic was bad. )
• Have any people actually met an alien? (answer → I don't know. )

How do we use an interrogative sentence?

We use interrogative sentences frequently in spoken and written language. They are one of the most common sentence types. Here are some extremely common interrogative sentences:

• Is it cold outside?
• Are you feeling better?
• Was the film good?
• Did you like it?
• Does it taste good?
• What is your name?
• What's the time?
• Where is the toilet please?
• Where shall we go?
• How do you open this?

There are three basic question types and they are all interrogative sentences:

• Yes/No question: the answer is "yes or no", for example: Do you want dinner? (No thank you.)
• Question-word (WH) question: the answer is "information", for example: Where do you live? (In Paris.)
• Choice question: the answer is "in the question", for example: Do you want tea or coffee? (Tea please.)

Look at some more positive and negative examples:

Indirect questions are not interrogative sentences

Try to recognize the difference between direct questions (in interrogative form) and indirect questions (in declarative form ).

Direct question : Do you like coffee? This is an interrogative sentence, with the usual word order for direct questions: auxiliary verb + subject + main verb...

Indirect question : She asked me if I was hungry. This is a declarative sentence (and it contains an indirect question with no question mark). This sentence has the usual word order for statements: subject + main verb...

1. You don't like her? The form is

2. The interrogative form is typically used to

3. Interrogative sentences can be in any

Your score is:

Correct answers:

• The 4 English Sentence Types
• Declarative Sentence (statement)
• Imperative Sentence (command)
• Exclamative Sentence (exclamation)
• 4 Sentence Types Quiz

References:

• Cambridge Dictionary . Cambridge University Press, 2017
• Seely, John. Grammar for Teachers . Oxpecker, 2006
• Trask, R.L. Penguin Dictionary of English Grammar . Penguin Reference, 2005

• Syllabus 2024-25
• CBSE Class X SQP 2023-24
• CBSE Class XII SQP 2023-24
• Class X SQP 2022-23
• Class XII SQP 2022-23
• Request Answers

Reported Speech: Practice Exercises in Interrogative Sentences

• Post last modified: 1 March 2023
• Post category: Grammar Exercises / School Grammar

Do practice converting Direct Speech Interrogative sentences into Indirect Speech. The exercises are based on both types of Questions – Starting with an Auxiliary Verb and the other type starting with a Q Word. Try to first attempt yourself then see the answers given in the last of every set of questions.

More exercises are added from time to time, so keep coming here 😊

Click here more English Grammar study materials

I – Interrogative Sentences – Yes/No Type (Questions starts with an auxiliary verb)

See some examples before attempting practice exercises.

Direct speech: “Are you the one who stole the money?”

Indirect speech: He asked if I was the one who had stolen the money.

Direct speech: “What are you doing here at this time?”

Indirect speech: She asked what I was doing there at that time.

Direct speech: “Have you ever been to Europe before?”

Indirect speech: He asked if I had ever been to Europe before.

Direct speech: “Who taught you how to play the guitar so well?”

Indirect speech: She asked me who had taught me how to play the guitar so well.

Direct speech: “Why did you leave your previous job?”

Indirect speech: He asked me why I had left my previous job.

Q. Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech.  

1. “Are there any more files?” He asked. “Yes, sir,” said the peon.  

2. The teacher said to Rena, “Did you break the window pane?” “No, sir,” said Reena, “I did not.” 

3. “If you find my answers satisfactory, will you give me five rupees?” said the astrologer. “No,” replied the customer.  

4. I said to him, “Do you want to go to Delhi?” He said, “No, sir.”  

5. Rahul said to me, “Does Mohit still play?” I said, “Yes, sir.”  

6. Malik said to her, “Has Sara invited you to dinner?”  

7. I said to her, “Did you enjoy the film?” She said, “No, sir.”  

8. Sachin said, “Sonam, do you see what I see?” Sonam said, “Yes.”  

9. He said, “Do you not like it?” She said, “Yes.”  

10. She said to me, “Shall we ever see each other again?” I said, “Perhaps, never.” 

1. He asked the peon if there were any more files. The peon replied respectfully in the affirmative.  

2. The teacher asked Reena if she had broken the window pane. Reena replied respectfully that she had not done it.  

3. The astrologer asked the customer if he would give him five rupees if he found his answers satisfactory. The customer replied in negative.  

4. I asked him if he wanted to go to Delhi and he replied respectfully in negative.  

5. Rahul asked me if Mohit still played and I replied respectfully in positive.  

6. Malik asked her if Sara had invited her to dinner.  

7. I asked her if she had enjoyed the film. She replied respectfully in negative.  

8. Sachin asked Sonam if she saw what he saw. She replied in affirmative.  

9. He asked if she did not like that and she replied in affirmative.  

10. She asked me if we would ever see each other again but I replied that we would perhaps never. 

II – Interrogative Sentences – Q. Word Type (Question begins with a Q. Word)

Q. change the following sentences into indirect speech.  .

1. He said to me, “Whom does she want to contact?”  

2. They said to her, “Whose house are you purchasing?”  

3. You said to him “Why are you making mischief?”  

4. They said to us, “How have you solved this sum?”  

5. We said to them, “Who has misguided you?”  

6. They said to him, “Where have you been wandering since yesterday?”  

7. She said to me, “Why were you hiding today?”  

8. Raja said to us, “When do you expect to see me again?”  

9. He said to her, “What shall I be offering you with tea?”  

10. We said to them, “When shall we have paid you a visit?” 

1. He asked me whom she wanted to contact.  

2. They asked her whose house she was purchasing.  

3. You asked him why he was making mischief.  

4. They asked us how we had solved that sum.  

5. We asked them who had misguided them.  

6. They asked him where he had been wandering since the previous day.  

7. She asked me why I had been hiding that day.  

8. Raja asked us when we expected to see him again.  

9. He asked her what he would be offering her with tea.

10. We asked them when we would have paid them a visit. 

Miscellaneous Exercises on Interrogative Sentences

I. change the following sentences into indirect speech..

• “What is your name?” asked the teacher. Indirect speech:
• “Where did you go yesterday?” she asked me. Indirect speech:
• “Are you feeling better now?” he asked her. Indirect speech: .
• “Will you come with me?” he asked her. Indirect speech: .
• “Why did you break the vase?” he asked his son. Indirect speech:
• “What are you doing here?” asked John.
• “Have you finished your homework?” the teacher asked.
• “Why did you leave the party so early?” she asked
• “Are you going to the concert tonight?” Tom asked.
• “Where did you put my phone?” asked Sarah.
• The teacher asked me what my name was.
• She asked me where I had gone the previous day.
• He asked her if she was feeling better then
• He asked her if she would go with him
• He asked his son why he had broken the vase.
• John asked what I was doing there.
• The teacher asked if I had finished my homework.
• She asked why I had left the party so early.
• Tom asked if I was going to the concert that night.
• Sarah asked where I had put her phone.

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Subject verb agreement rules, determiners english grammar practice questions, story writing class 10 english grammar, reported speech: exclamatory sentences practice questions with answers, this post has 5 comments.

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Cool…!!

Hi Safa, we have added a few more questions. You can also see and attempt them.

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Interrogative Sentences: What Are Interrogative Sentences? Definition and Examples

Marcus Froland

March 28, 2024

Have you ever found yourself puzzled by the countless ways we can ask questions in English? It’s a part of our daily lives, yet so many of us struggle to master the art. Interrogative sentences are more than just a fancy term; they are the backbone of our conversations, driving our curiosity and interactions forward.

In this piece, we’re peeling back the layers to reveal the core principles behind interrogative sentences. From their basic definition to striking examples that illuminate their function and importance, we’ll cover it all. But there’s a twist – understanding these sentences is just the beginning. What lies beyond might change how you think about communication itself.

Interrogative sentences are a key part of English grammar. They are the type of sentences that ask questions and always end with a question mark (?). Their main job is to seek information or clarification. These sentences usually start with question words like who, what, when, where, why, and how. Or they can begin with helping verbs such as do, does, is, are, can, should, etc., if they’re asking for a yes or no answer. Understanding how to form and use interrogative sentences correctly is crucial for effective communication in English.

Unveiling Interrogative Sentences: Their Nature and Purpose

The nature of interrogative sentences revolves around their primary function—to solicit information or clarify doubts. These sentences set themselves apart by altering the standard word order and employing auxiliary verbs to form a question. Beyond information gathering, interrogative sentences can also stimulate audience thought or introduce new concepts through topical sentences. This dual-purpose illustrates both an inquiry for direct knowledge and a method of engagement that provokes consideration or highlights significance without necessarily awaiting an answer, as seen with rhetorical questions.

While all interrogative sentences share the common feature of seeking answers, their intent can vary, resulting in different types of questions. Let’s examine the different purposes served by interrogative sentences:

• Information gathering: These sentences are designed to elicit specific information or details from the person being questioned, whether it’s about a fact or someone’s opinion.
• Clarifying doubts: In cases where existing facts or ideas are unclear, interrogative sentences can be employed to resolve confusion and improve understanding.
• Introducing new concepts: Employing interrogative sentences to highlight a topic or issue can help engage the receiver’s attention and invite further discussion on the subject.
• Stimulating thought: Thought-provoking questions can encourage reflection, analysis, and debate, fostering a dynamic and interactive exchange of ideas.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein

Rhetorical questions are a prime example of interrogative sentences that inspire thought, as they don’t require direct answers. Instead, they act as a persuasive device that encourages contemplation, promotes awareness, and emphasizes particular issues. For instance:

• Is the grass always greener on the other side?
• How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?
• Who do you think you are?

As we delve deeper into the structure and types of interrogative sentences, we’ll discover how they serve as powerful tools for enriching communication and facilitating insightful, informed exchanges.

The Unique Structure of Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences possess a unique structure that distinguishes them from other sentence types. This section will delve into the crucial elements of interrogative sentence construction, including the inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb, the role of ‘do’ as an auxiliary verb in questions, and the peculiar case of the verb ‘be’ along with modal verbs.

The Inversion of Subject and Auxiliary Verb

A key characteristic of interrogative sentences is their unconventional structure, where the auxiliary verb precedes the subject—thus inverting the typical declarative order. Questions containing auxiliary or modal verbs maintain this inverted pattern, placing the helper before the subject and the main verb. For example:

• Are you going to the party tonight?

Here, the auxiliary verb ‘are’ comes before the subject ‘you’, showcasing the inversion at play in interrogative sentences.

Adding ‘Do’ as an Auxiliary Verb

In instances where an interrogative sentence lacks other auxiliary verbs and the integral verb is not a form of ‘be’, the verb ‘do’ is introduced as an auxiliary in order to craft a question. It appears in various forms, such as ‘does’ and ‘did’, to match tense and subject—ultimately fulfilling a crucial role in questions not involving continuous or perfect verb tenses (which typically utilize other auxiliary verbs). Consider the following example:

Do you like romantic comedies?

The auxiliary verb ‘do’ precedes the subject ‘you’ and helps form the question.

The Peculiar Case of ‘Be’ and Modal Verbs

The verb ‘be’ holds a unique position in English as it serves as both a main verb and an auxiliary verb. Consequently, it plays a significant role in question construction, either standing alone or working in tandem with modal verbs—without necessitating additional auxiliary verbs. Modal auxiliary verbs like ‘can’, ‘will’, and ‘should’ similarly precede subjects to create inquiries concisely. Observe the following examples:

• Is she upset about the news?
• Can you help me with this problem?
• Will they be arriving soon?

In each query, the verb ‘be’ or the relevant modal verb comes before the subject, illustrating the peculiar structure of interrogative sentences with ‘be’ and modal verbs.

Decoding the Use and Placement of Question Marks

Interrogative sentences are characterized by their defining punctuation—the question mark. This potent symbol not only signals the presence of an inquiry within the sentence, but also serves to distinguish direct questions from indirect speech reporting on questions asked. The difference in terminal punctuation marks, with direct questions ending in question marks and indirect speech terminating with periods, lends clarity to the interrogative nature of the sentence at hand.

The question mark is more than a mere visual cue; it carries significant weight in guiding readers through an interrogation. Let’s explore its essential functions and uses:

• Encapsulating the essence of inquiry within the interrogative sentence
• Differentiating direct questions from indirect speech
• Consistently marking the end of interrogative sentences in the English language

Understanding the importance of question marks and their correct placement is crucial for crafting and interpreting interrogative sentences.

“Who are you going with?”

In the example above, the question mark clearly denotes that the sentence is a direct question. Contrastingly, when the same question is integrated into indirect interrogative speech:

She asked who he was going with.

The sentence takes on a different structure and ends with a period, signaling the shift to indirect speech. As such, the question mark serves as a critical tool for demarcating interrogative sentences and maintaining linguistic clarity.

By mastering the appropriate use and placement of question marks, you will reinforce the clarity and accuracy of your interrogative sentences, effectively extracting precise information and engaging your audience in thought-provoking dialogue.

Exploring Types of Interrogative Sentences in English

In English, interrogative sentences can be categorized into two main types: yes/no interrogative sentences and ‘Wh’ questions. These two types of questions are fundamentally different in terms of their structure and the information they seek. In this section, you will learn about these two types of interrogative sentences and their functions.

Yes/No Interrogative Sentences

Yes/no interrogative sentences are designed to elicit either a positive (yes) or negative (no) response. They are structured without using ‘Wh’ question words, and instead begin with an auxiliary verb or the verb ‘be’. An example of a yes/no interrogative sentence is:

Do you like pizza?

The main purpose of yes/no interrogative sentences is to seek a binary response based on the information that may already be assumed or known.

‘Wh’ Questions and Their Functions

‘Wh’ questions are formed to gather specific information beyond a simple yes or no answer. These interrogative sentences utilize ‘Wh’ words, such as:

These words indicate the type of inquiry being made, asking for detailed information about people, places, reasons, methods, quantities, and more. ‘Wh’ questions maintain the typical auxiliary-verb-subject structure but lead with the question word. For example:

Where do you live?

The table below highlights the different types of ‘Wh’ interrogative sentences and their functions:

Understanding the types of interrogative sentences and their purposes will help you craft effective questions and improve the clarity of your communication.

Interrogative Sentences Without Question Words: The Subtleties

Interrogative sentences can be more subtle than their direct counterparts, as they are capable of posing questions without the use of explicit question words. By employing an auxiliary verb first formula, these sentences effectively convey inquiries in an indirect manner, frequently found in polite requests or in situations where the question’s context has already been established. This nuanced approach eliminates the need for explicit interrogation and affords a more discreet communication style.

In the example above, the question’s context is evident, and the use of the verb ‘could’ at the beginning of the sentence serves as an implicit question with a polite tone. The flexibility of this structure is beneficial when tailoring your communication style to suit various contexts, particularly when aiming to be tactful and respectful.

• Can she come tomorrow?
• Would you like some tea?

The examples in the ordered list display the diverse range of subtle interrogative sentences that eschew the use of question words. The auxiliary verbs (can, would, and are) lead each sentence, ensuring clarity of meaning and allowing for a variety of contexts. Additionally, the absence of the explicit interrogation showcases the adaptability of the English language in effectively transmitting information, maintaining nuance, and establishing relational connections.

The Art of Crafting Indirect Interrogative Sentences

Indirect interrogative sentences offer a unique alternative to their direct counterparts for soliciting information or clarification. These sentences are designed to convey questions within the boundaries of statements or as part of a dialogue and are recognized by their subtler linguistic structure. With a focus on crafting effective indirect interrogative sentences, you can navigate different communication scenarios skillfully.

“Can you tell me what time the meeting starts ?”

The example above demonstrates an indirect interrogative sentence embedded within a dialogue. Notice that the embedded query, ‘what time the meeting starts’, follows statement syntax and doesn’t end with a question mark.

What, then, distinguishes indirect interrogative sentences from typical statements? Despite their subtler form, indirect interrogative sentences retain the underlying nature of seeking information or clarification. Let’s explore some essential elements:

• The clause containing the question is part of a larger statement or dialogue;
• It maintains standard statement syntax, with the subject preceding the verb;
• It doesn’t end with a question mark, using a period instead;
• Auxiliary verbs (‘do’, ‘be’, ‘have’) assume their conventional positions.

Table showcasing the differences between direct and indirect interrogative sentences:

Indirect interrogative sentences provide a versatile means of communication, allowing you to inquire without the stark demands of direct questions. By recognizing and implementing indirect interrogative sentences, you can communicate more subtly and effectively – whether embedded in statements or as part of a dialogue.

Engaging Your Audience Through Rhetorical Questions

Whether it’s writing an article, delivering a speech, or engaging in a conversation, capturing your audience’s interest is critical to making your message more impactful. One powerful tool to achieve this is the use of rhetorical questions in your content. Unlike typical interrogative sentences that expect a direct answer, rhetorical questions intend to provoke thought, highlight issues, or emphasize key messages, resulting in a stronger, more engaging communication.

But how can you effectively incorporate rhetorical questions into your content? Here are some practical tips and examples of rhetorical questions to help you make the most of this linguistic device.

• Create Dialogue and Encourage Reflection : Rhetorical questions enable you to engage your audience by prompting internal conversations and self-reflection. Pose thought-provoking questions that inspire your readers to consider new perspectives or dig deeper into the subject matter, such as “What would you do if you were in their shoes?” or “Is it worth sacrificing long-term benefits for short-term gains?”
• Underscore Important Points : Use rhetorical questions strategically to draw attention to essential takeaways or arguments. By framing a statement as a question (“Isn’t it crucial to prioritize our physical and mental health?”), you can subtly set the audience’s focus on the significance of the topic, making it more memorable.
• Challenge Assumptions : Sometimes, it’s valuable to question standard ways of thinking or well-established beliefs. Rhetorical questions like “Are traditional education methods still relevant in today’s fast-paced, digital world?” or “Can we truly achieve equality while sticking to old customs and norms?” can stimulate deeper thinking and provoke discussion within your audience.

Properly implementing rhetorical questions is not the only way to engage your audience; context and tone also play a significant role in the effectiveness of the question. Consider these two additional tips to master the art of posing rhetorical questions:

• Don’t Overuse : While rhetorical questions can be potent, too many can dilute their impact and make your content appear unorganized or disjointed. Be selective with their placement and use them judiciously for maximum effect.
• Maintain Consistency : Ensure that your rhetorical questions align with the overall tone and style of your content. Sudden shifts in tone or unrelated questions can confuse or deter your audience, undermining your message’s effectiveness.

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy

Effectively employing rhetorical questions can make your content more engaging, persuasive, and memorable. By stimulating thought, emphasizing critical points, and challenging the status quo, you can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. Fine-tune your rhetorical questioning skills by exploring different contexts, paying attention to tone and style, and remembering that less is often more when it comes to this powerful tool.

The Practical Application of Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences are remarkably versatile, serving multiple purposes in everyday communication. From expressing curiosity and requesting additional information to confirming details and clarifying doubts, these sentences prove invaluable for effective dialogue. Mastering the art of crafting various types, structures, and nuances allows you to engage more meaningfully and constructively with others.

Beyond their conventional usage for soliciting information, interrogative sentences can also be employed as rhetorical devices to facilitate deeper understanding. Rhetorical questions, for example, are designed to promote internal consideration or emphasize key points without expecting a direct response. By integrating these questions strategically into your conversations, you can expertly provoke thought and engage your audience on a more profound and impactful level.

In summary, interrogative sentences encompass a wealth of practical applications across various contexts. Whether directly questioning, seeking confirmation, or posing rhetorical queries, these sentences enable you to exchange information, connect more effectively, and foster open dialogue. By understanding their nature, purpose, and structures, you can enhance both your communication skills and your ability to lead engaging, thoughtful discussions.

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Narration Change of Interrogative Sentences

Back to: Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Interrogative sentence are two types –

English Saga

Interrogative Sentences-Direct & Indirect speech

An interrogative sentence is a type of sentence that asks a question. It may either be started with some Interrogative Word (who, when, why, where, how, whom, etc.) or may have a helping verb (is, are, am, do, does, etc.)

Changes in the pronouns, other words, and tenses can be made by following the following rules:

• Pronouns Changing Rules
• Other Words Changing Rules
• Rule # 1, Rule # 2, and Rule # 3 of Changes in the Tenses

However, some extra rules must be followed while converting an Interrogative Sentence from Direct Narration to Indirect Narration.

General Rules for Converting Interrogative Sentences from Direct Narration to Indirect Narration

When there is an Interrogative Sentence in the Reported Speech, the following rules must be followed:

• “said to” of the Reporting Speech must be converted to the word, “asked” or “inquired of”, because someone asks a question.
• Make the word arrangement as it must take the form of simple Assertive Sentence, i.e; Subject + Verb+ Object.
• If the Interrogative Sentence is started with an Interrogative Word, then there is no need to add any word.
• But if Interrogative Sentence is started with a helping verb, then add the word “if” or “whether” to connect Reporting and Reported Speech.
• Replace the Mark of Interrogation (?) with a full stop (.) mark, so that it must represent the Simple Assertive Sentence.    

Examples of the Interrogative Sentences with Interrogative Words

• I asked him when he got up.
• She asked me where I was going then.
• I inquired of him what he had eaten the previous day.
• She inquired of him why he had been weeping the previous day.
• We asked them who would be visiting their factory the next day.
• He asked her which books she had bought from that shop.
• He asked me what I was doing there.
• She asked him why he had not gone to the doctor that day.
• I asked them where they were going then.
• I asked them where they were going the previous day.
• The policeman asked the taxi driver why he had refused to take those ladies to the railway station.
• He asked me why I had been beating his servant the previous day.
• He asked me who my father was.
• She asked me how many sisters I had.
• You asked him when he had bought that house.
• She asked us where we had been going the previous day with that man
• He inquired of me how far Mecca was from Madina.
• The policeman asked him why he had beaten that old man the previous day.
• The goldsmith asked the thief how he had broken the lock of that safe.
• The doctor asked me why I had not taken that medicine the previous day.
• The old man asked his son where he was coming from then.
• She asked me what my name was.
• I asked him where he lived in that city.
• I asked the boy why he was weeping.
• She asked him when he was going for the Hajj.
• They asked him how he managed to escape from that place.
• She asked her brother where he was going with those boys then.
• He asked us why we were making noise over there.
• The passenger asked the guard why the train had stopped near that bridge.
• She asked me when I would return her camera.
• He asked us what we would do with that money there.
• We asked him when he had returned from London.
• Father asked me how I was feeling then.
• I asked the teacher respectfully why he had expelled my brother from his class.
• I asked her why her baby had been weeping the previous day.
• He asked me where my mother was going.
• You asked him what Faisal had said there in his ear.
• I asked my servant where he was going then.
• The policeman asked him why he observed the traffic rules.
• She asked her teacher respectfully why he was angry with her.
• Father asked him why he had beaten the servant then.
• We asked our neighbor why our house had been locked.
• She asked her what her sister had been saying to her the previous day.
• I asked the carpenter why he had not completed my work the previous day.
• Salman’s sister asked Salman why he was sitting there.
• The father asked his son, Nadeem, what he was doing there.
• The wolf asked the lamb why he had called him names the previous year.
• The shopkeeper asked her respectfully how he could give her a short measure.
• You asked him where he was coming from.
• She asked him why he had been knocking at her door just then.
• He asked her respectfully at what time he could see her the next day.
• She inquired of Nadeem what he had been doing the previous day.
• David said to John where he was going.
• He asked me why I had stolen his pen from that box.
• She asked them where they had left their servant the previous day.
• The passenger asked the guard when that train would reach Peshawar.
• She asked the stranger what his name was.
• The constable asked the two young men where they were coming from in the dead of night.
• A little girl asked the barber what he would charge her for dressing her hair.
• He asked the doctor when he should come to him for getting his eyes tested.
• He asked me where I had been all those days.

Examples of Interrogative Sentences that Start with a Verb

• She asked the principal respectfully if she might come in.
• He inquired of me if I was going to school then.
• You asked him if he had broken your jug that day.
• We inquired of her if she had beaten our servant the previous day.
• He asked you whether you would go to the pictures that night.
• She asked him if he had lost his pen there.
• He asked you whether you would go to Peshawar the next day.
• I inquired of the postman if there was any letter for me that day.
• She asked him if he had ironed her shirt the previous day.
• He inquired of me if it had been raining there since morning.
• You asked her if she had bought those cups and saucers the previous day.
• He inquired of the stranger if he was in his senses then.
• She asked her brother if he had been feeling any pain in his chest the previous day.
• He inquired of them if they would be going to Karachi by the morning train the next day.
• The old man asked the beggar if he had been knocking at his door just then.
• The shopkeeper asked me if I had given him a ten-rupee note for those cakes of soap.
• I asked her whether she had consulted any doctor that day.
• She asked him if he would lend her his pen for that day.
• I inquired of them if they would build a hospital over there.
• They asked us whether we had been sleeping in that room the previous day.
• Mother asked my friend if he had paid the fine that day.
• I asked the beggar if he was suffering from fever then.
• She asked us if he had been trying to fire at us.
• She asked him if he had seen the snake in the compound of that house.
• The guest asked us whether it had been raining very heavily over there at night.
• He asked them if they would take the examination that year.
• They asked us if we had broken that flower pot.
• He asked her respectfully if she was going to Karachi by the Tez Gam the next day.
• They asked him if he had been working in that office since 1975.
• The doctor asked her if she had taken that medicine the previous day.
• He asked me if I was in my senses.
• We asked him if that train was running on time then.
• He asked his mother if she would go with him to Murree the next day.
• The teacher asked the boys if they were fully prepared to take the test that day.
• She asked her teacher respectfully if she might go out to see her mother.
• They asked the gardener if they might pluck a few flowers from those plots.
• He asked us whether we were learning that poem by heart.
• She asked her brother if she had posted those letters the previous day.
• The policeman asked him if he had his driving license with him.
• He asked us if we had solved those sums.
• I asked the postman if there was any letter for me that day.
• I inquired of the servant if he had told me the truth about that accident.
• You asked him if it had rained there the previous day.
• You asked him if he had returned your book to you.
• She asked him whether he would lend her his camera for that day.
• He asked me if I was ready to go with him then.
• He asked me if I could spare some money.
• He asked me whether the man is the maker of his fate.
• Kashif asked his boss if he might tell him something in that connection.
• The king enquired of the robber if he was the robber of whom he had heard so much.
• She asked me if I had gone out for a walk just then.
• He asked me if I did not know that he was my next-door neighbor.
• The young man asked her mother if she had milked all those cows.
• He asked his brother if that was the way to talk to a stranger.
• He asked me if I had been a student of the Government College. 
• He asked the postman if he had bought any letter for him.
• The student asked the Headmaster respectfully if he might come in.

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What is an interrogative sentence definition, examples, & more.

• By Matthew Jones

Exchanging information is one of the main reasons people use the English language (or any language for that matter). To exchange information, we often need to ask and answer questions. While the latter usually requires declarative sentences or statements, the former requires interrogative sentences . In today’s guide, we will define interrogative sentences, explain their function, and expand on the role of interrogative pronouns. So, let’s get started!

Interrogative Sentence Definition

An interrogative sentence asks a question. Interrogative sentences are usually distinguished from other types of sentences with an inverted structure. In other words, the predicate (verb) often comes before the subject. To better understand interrogative sentences in relation to other sentence types, let’s take a closer look at how interrogative sentences compare to declarative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in English.

4 Types of Sentences in English

There are four basic sentence types in English:

• The police station is over there.
• Bring me a fresh towel, please.
• What do you want to do today?
• I’m late for school!

Interrogative Sentence Examples

Now, let’s examine some different examples of interrogative sentences:

To answer this question, you could say something like this:

As you can see, a standard declarative statement can answer the question above. When making a declarative statement, the subject usually appears before the main verb. However, when you ask a question, the subject and verb are usually reversed so that the primary verb appears before the subject. Let’s look at a few more examples:

Interrogative Sentence (Question)

Declarative Sentence (Answer)

Interrogative Pronouns

You might have noticed that some of the example questions above started with a pronoun. When a question begins with a pronoun, these parts of speech are known as interrogative pronouns . Here are some examples:

• Who wants to get Chinese for dinner?
• About whom are you speaking?
• What time is it?
• Which shirt do you like best?
• Whose car is that?

Interrogative Adverbs

It’s important to note that interrogative pronouns are not a requirement when forming interrogative sentences. There are also many question words that are not pronouns. Some of the most common question words are interrogative adverbs. For example:

• Why didn’t you check the tire pressure before we left?
• Where is the nearest gas station?
• How are we going to get home?
• When will we arrive at the train station?

Rather than asking about specific people or things (subjects and objects), adverbial phrases often ask about actions (verbs). Interrogative adverbs are always immediately followed by the main verb.

Other Question Words

It’s important to note that there are many different ways to ask questions in English . You don’t have to use interrogative pronouns or adverbs at all. In fact, many of the most common questions use auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, or “to be” verbs. These are frequently known as Yes/No questions because there are only two ways to answer them — yes or no! Here are a few examples of interrogative sentences that do not require interrogative pronouns or adverbs:

• Could you do me a favor?
• Are you busy?
• Did he pay for his drink?
• Will they be ready for the party on time?
• Should we take a taxi?
• Can you hold my bag for a second?

Finally, there is one more common type of interrogative sentence that does not require a standard, interrogative part of speech . It is known as a tag question. Tag questions can be rhetorical, meaning that no one is expected to provide an answer. Even when an answer is expected, a tag question simply aims to confirm the validity of something that you (the person asking the question) believe to be true. Here are a few examples:

• We have enough time to stop by the house first, don’t we?
• These shoes aren’t very cheap, are they?
• I should get going, shouldn’t I?
• They can’t just leave without saying goodbye, can they?
• He doesn’t know how to swim, does he?
• She needs to talk to her professor, does she?

To briefly recap, an interrogative sentence is simply a question. There are many different ways to ask questions in English, and though not all questions require traditional interrogative parts of speech (pronouns and adverbs), they are still interrogative sentences. Now that you know what the term means, you can start expanding your English skills by forming different kinds of interrogative sentences in your own speech and writing!

If you’d like to hear native English speakers using interrogative sentences and other types of sentence structures in English, be sure to subscribe to the Magoosh Youtube channel today!

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Unlocking Answers: The Art of Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences are identified by the question mark that comes at the end of the sentence instead of a period. Unlike declarative sentences that make a statement, interrogative sentences ask a question. Interrogative sentences can be in positive or negative form, and in any tense. They often begin with the words who, what, when, where, why, or how.

In this article, we will discuss the different types of interrogative sentences, such as yes/no questions, alternative interrogatives, and tag questions. We will also explore the structure of interrogative sentences, including the placement of auxiliary verbs and subject-verb agreement. Additionally, we will provide examples of interrogative sentences in different contexts, such as in conversation, writing, and formal settings.

Understanding Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences are a type of sentence that asks a question. They are one of the four main types of sentences in the English language, along with declarative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences. Interrogative sentences are used to gather information or to request clarification.

Interrogative sentences are formed by using an auxiliary verb (such as “do,” “does,” or “is”) before the subject of the sentence. In some cases, the word order of the sentence is also changed to put the auxiliary verb before the subject. Interrogative sentences are always punctuated with a question mark.

Here are some examples of interrogative sentences:

• “What time is it?”
• “Do you want to go to the movies?”
• “Where did you go last night?”
• “Is it going to rain today?”

Interrogative sentences can be used in a variety of contexts, from casual conversations to formal writing. They are an important tool for gathering information and clarifying meaning.

In addition to the basic form of interrogative sentences, there are also several different types of interrogative sentences. These include:

• Yes/No Questions: These are questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” Examples include “Are you hungry?” and “Did you finish your homework?”
• Wh- Questions: These are questions that begin with a word like “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” or “how.” Examples include “What is your favorite color?” and “Why did you choose that movie?”
• Tag Questions: These are questions that are added to the end of a statement to confirm or clarify meaning. Examples include “You’re coming with us, aren’t you?” and “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

Interrogative sentences are a powerful tool for communication and are essential for effective communication in both spoken and written English. By understanding the different types of interrogative sentences and how to use them correctly, you can become a more effective communicator and better understand the meaning behind the words of others.

Types of Interrogative Sentences

Yes or no interrogatives.

Yes or No interrogatives are used to ask a question that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” response. These types of questions often start with an auxiliary verb, such as “do,” “does,” “did,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “can,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “should,” etc.

• Do you like pizza?
• Is she coming to the party?
• Can you swim?

Wh- Interrogatives

Wh- interrogatives are used to ask questions that require more than a simple “yes” or “no” response. These types of questions often start with a question word, such as “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” etc.

• What time is it?
• Where do you live?
• Why did you quit your job?

Tag Questions

Tag questions are used to confirm or verify information that has just been stated. These types of questions often end with a tag, such as “isn’t it?” “aren’t you?” “didn’t they?” “won’t she?” “can’t he?” etc.

• You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?
• They finished the project on time, didn’t they?
• She’s a great singer, isn’t she?

Choice Interrogatives

Choice interrogatives are used to ask a question where the answer is a choice between two or more options. These types of questions often start with “either” or “or.”

• Do you want pizza or pasta for dinner?
• Would you like to go to the park or the beach?
• Should we watch a movie or play a board game ?

Negative Interrogatives

Negative interrogatives are used to ask a question in a negative form. These types of questions often start with “don’t,” “doesn’t,” “didn’t,” etc.

• Don’t you like ice cream?
• Doesn’t she know how to swim?
• Didn’t they finish the project on time?

Interrogative sentences are an essential part of the English language. By knowing the different types of interrogative sentences, you can better understand and communicate with others.

Formation of Interrogative Sentences

In English, the word order of an interrogative sentence is typically inverted from that of a declarative sentence. The subject usually follows the auxiliary verb or the main verb in the sentence. For example:

Declarative sentence: She is reading a book.

Interrogative sentence: Is she reading a book?

Use of Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs are often used to form interrogative sentences in English. The auxiliary verb is placed before the subject in the sentence. The most common auxiliary verbs used in interrogative sentences are “do,” “does,” and “did.” For example:

Declarative sentence: They eat breakfast every day.

Interrogative sentence: Do they eat breakfast every day?

Question Words

Question words are used to form interrogative sentences that request specific information. Some common question words include “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how.” Question words are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

Declarative sentence: The party starts at 7 pm.

Interrogative sentence: When does the party start?

In summary, interrogative sentences are formed by inverting the word order of a declarative sentence, using auxiliary verbs, and using question words to request specific information. By following these rules, you can easily form interrogative sentences in English.

• What is your name?
• Did you enjoy the movie?
• How long have you been learning English?

Punctuation in Interrogative Sentences

When writing an interrogative sentence, it is crucial to use the correct punctuation to indicate that you are asking a question. The punctuation mark used in interrogative sentences is the question mark (?).

The question mark should be placed at the end of the sentence, immediately after the last word. It is important to note that the question mark should not be used in combination with other punctuation marks such as periods, exclamation marks, or commas.

Here are some examples of correct usage of question marks in interrogative sentences:

• Have you finished your homework?
• Where is the nearest gas station?

In addition to the question mark, it is also important to use appropriate capitalization in interrogative sentences. The first letter of the first word in the sentence should be capitalized, as well as any proper nouns or titles.

Here are some examples of correct capitalization in interrogative sentences:

• What time is the meeting with Professor Smith?
• Can you give me directions to the library?
• Who is the author of this book?

Overall, using proper punctuation and capitalization in interrogative sentences is essential for clear and effective communication. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your questions are understood and answered correctly.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Interrogative sentences are an essential part of the English language, and they are used to ask questions. However, there are some common errors that people make while constructing interrogative sentences. Here are some of the common errors and how to avoid them:

Error 1: Forgetting to Use Auxiliary Verbs

One of the most common errors while constructing interrogative sentences is forgetting to use auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs are used to form questions, and without them, the sentence will not be a question.

Example: “You like pizza?” (Incorrect) “You like pizza, don’t you?” (Correct)

Error 2: Using the Wrong Word Order

Another common error is using the wrong word order while constructing interrogative sentences. In English, the subject-verb order is standard, and it changes to verb-subject order when forming questions.

Example: “What you did yesterday?” (Incorrect) “What did you do yesterday?” (Correct)

Error 3: Using the Wrong Question Word

Using the wrong question word is another common error while constructing interrogative sentences. It is essential to use the correct question word to ask the right question.

Example: “Where is the time?” (Incorrect) “When is the meeting?” (Correct)

Error 4: Forgetting to Use a Question Mark

One of the most common errors is forgetting to use a question mark at the end of the interrogative sentence. The question mark is essential to indicate that the sentence is a question.

Example: “Do you like ice cream” (Incorrect) “Do you like ice cream?” (Correct)

By avoiding these common errors, you can construct grammatically correct and meaningful interrogative sentences.

In conclusion, interrogative sentences are an essential part of English grammar. They are used to ask questions and request information. Interrogative sentences always end with a question mark, which differentiates them from other types of sentences.

It is important to note that there are different types of interrogative sentences, including yes/no questions and wh-questions. Yes/no questions are used to ask for confirmation or denial, while wh-questions are used to request specific information.

When writing interrogative sentences, it is crucial to pay attention to subject-verb agreement, word order, and punctuation. Incorrectly constructed interrogative sentences can lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of interrogative sentences?

Interrogative sentences are questions that require a response. Here are some examples:

• Where are you going?
• How old are you?

How do you form an interrogative sentence?

To form an interrogative sentence, you can start with a question word (who, what, when, where, why, how), or you can use an auxiliary verb (do, does, did, can, will, would, etc.) followed by the subject and the main verb. For example:

• Do you like coffee?
• Will you come with me?

What is the purpose of using interrogative sentences in writing?

The purpose of using interrogative sentences is to ask a question and to get information from the reader or listener. They are also used to engage the reader and to create a sense of curiosity.

What are the different types of interrogative sentences?

There are four types of interrogative sentences:

• Yes/No questions: Questions that require a yes or no answer. For example, “Are you hungry?”
• Wh- questions: Questions that start with a question word. For example, “What is your name?”
• Tag questions: Questions that are added to the end of a statement to confirm or clarify. For example, “You like ice cream, don’t you?”
• Choice questions: Questions that give options. For example, “Would you like tea or coffee?”

Can declarative sentences be turned into interrogative sentences?

Yes, declarative sentences can be turned into interrogative sentences by adding a question word or an auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

• Declarative: You are going to the store.
• Interrogative: Are you going to the store?

What is the difference between an interrogative and an exclamatory sentence?

An interrogative sentence asks a question, while an exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion or emphasis. For example:

• Interrogative: What time is it?
• Exclamatory: What a beautiful day!

Reported Speech – Rules, Examples

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

They say gossip is a natural part of human life. That’s why language has evolved to develop grammatical rules about the “he said” and “she said” statements. We call them reported speech.

Every time we use reported speech in English, we are talking about something said by someone else in the past. Thinking about it brings me back to high school, when reported speech was the main form of language!

Learn all about the definition, rules, and examples of reported speech as I go over everything. I also included a worksheet at the end of the article so you can test your knowledge of the topic.

What Does Reported Speech Mean?

Reported speech is a term we use when telling someone what another person said. You can do this while speaking or writing.

There are two kinds of reported speech you can use: direct speech and indirect speech. I’ll break each down for you.

A direct speech sentence mentions the exact words the other person said. For example:

• Kryz said, “These are all my necklaces.”

Indirect speech changes the original speaker’s words. For example:

• Kryz said those were all her necklaces.

When we tell someone what another individual said, we use reporting verbs like told, asked, convinced, persuaded, and said. We also change the first-person figure in the quotation into the third-person speaker.

Reported Speech Examples

We usually talk about the past every time we use reported speech. That’s because the time of speaking is already done. For example:

• Direct speech: The employer asked me, “Do you have experience with people in the corporate setting?”

Indirect speech: The employer asked me if I had experience with people in the corporate setting.

• Direct speech: “I’m working on my thesis,” I told James.

Indirect speech: I told James that I was working on my thesis.

Reported Speech Structure

A speech report has two parts: the reporting clause and the reported clause. Read the example below:

• Harry said, “You need to help me.”

The reporting clause here is William said. Meanwhile, the reported clause is the 2nd clause, which is I need your help.

What are the 4 Types of Reported Speech?

Aside from direct and indirect, reported speech can also be divided into four. The four types of reported speech are similar to the kinds of sentences: imperative, interrogative, exclamatory, and declarative.

Reported Speech Rules

The rules for reported speech can be complex. But with enough practice, you’ll be able to master them all.

Choose Whether to Use That or If

The most common conjunction in reported speech is that. You can say, “My aunt says she’s outside,” or “My aunt says that she’s outside.”

Use if when you’re reporting a yes-no question. For example:

• Direct speech: “Are you coming with us?”

Indirect speech: She asked if she was coming with them.

Verb Tense Changes

Change the reporting verb into its past form if the statement is irrelevant now. Remember that some of these words are irregular verbs, meaning they don’t follow the typical -d or -ed pattern. For example:

• Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken.

Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken.

Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form.

Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting. This verb tense also works if the report is something someone would repeat. For example:

• Slater says they’re opening a restaurant soon.
• Maya says she likes dogs.

This rule proves that the choice of verb tense is not a black-and-white question. The reporter needs to analyze the context of the action.

Move the tense backward when the reporting verb is in the past tense. That means:

• Present simple becomes past simple.
• Present perfect becomes past perfect.
• Present continuous becomes past continuous.
• Past simple becomes past perfect.
• Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.

Here are some examples:

• The singer has left the building. (present perfect)

He said that the singers had left the building. (past perfect)

• Her sister gave her new shows. (past simple)
• She said that her sister had given her new shoes. (past perfect)

If the original speaker is discussing the future, change the tense of the reporting verb into the past form. There’ll also be a change in the auxiliary verbs.

• Will or shall becomes would.
• Will be becomes would be.
• Will have been becomes would have been.
• Will have becomes would have.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I will be there in a moment.”

Indirect speech: She said that she would be there in a moment.

Do not change the verb tenses in indirect speech when the sentence has a time clause. This rule applies when the introductory verb is in the future, present, and present perfect. Here are other conditions where you must not change the tense:

• If the sentence is a fact or generally true.
• If the sentence’s verb is in the unreal past (using second or third conditional).
• If the original speaker reports something right away.
• Do not change had better, would, used to, could, might, etc.

Changes in Place and Time Reference

Changing the place and time adverb when using indirect speech is essential. For example, now becomes then and today becomes that day. Here are more transformations in adverbs of time and places.

• This – that.
• These – those.
• Now – then.
• Here – there.
• Tomorrow – the next/following day.
• Two weeks ago – two weeks before.
• Yesterday – the day before.

Here are some examples.

• Direct speech: “I am baking cookies now.”

Indirect speech: He said he was baking cookies then.

• Direct speech: “Myra went here yesterday.”

Indirect speech: She said Myra went there the day before.

• Direct speech: “I will go to the market tomorrow.”

Indirect speech: She said she would go to the market the next day.

Using Modals

If the direct speech contains a modal verb, make sure to change them accordingly.

• Will becomes would
• Can becomes could
• Shall becomes should or would.
• Direct speech: “Will you come to the ball with me?”

Indirect speech: He asked if he would come to the ball with me.

• Direct speech: “Gina can inspect the room tomorrow because she’s free.”

Indirect speech: He said Gina could inspect the room the next day because she’s free.

However, sometimes, the modal verb should does not change grammatically. For example:

• Direct speech: “He should go to the park.”

Indirect speech: She said that he should go to the park.

Imperative Sentences

To change an imperative sentence into a reported indirect sentence, use to for imperative and not to for negative sentences. Never use the word that in your indirect speech. Another rule is to remove the word please . Instead, say request or say. For example:

• “Please don’t interrupt the event,” said the host.

The host requested them not to interrupt the event.

• Jonah told her, “Be careful.”
• Jonah ordered her to be careful.

Reported Questions

When reporting a direct question, I would use verbs like inquire, wonder, ask, etc. Remember that we don’t use a question mark or exclamation mark for reports of questions. Below is an example I made of how to change question forms.

• Incorrect: He asked me where I live?

Correct: He asked me where I live.

Here’s another example. The first sentence uses direct speech in a present simple question form, while the second is the reported speech.

• Where do you live?

She asked me where I live.

Wrapping Up Reported Speech

My guide has shown you an explanation of reported statements in English. Do you have a better grasp on how to use it now?

Reported speech refers to something that someone else said. It contains a subject, reporting verb, and a reported cause.

Don’t forget my rules for using reported speech. Practice the correct verb tense, modal verbs, time expressions, and place references.

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• English Grammar
• Types of Sentences
• Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative Sentences - Meaning, Definition, Types, Uses and Examples

Among the four different types of sentences , interrogative sentences are used to ask a question to know about something. This article on interrogative sentences will teach you how to use them, their meaning and definition, their types and uses. Also, there are examples to show you how to use them correctly.

Table of Contents

Definition of an interrogative sentence.

• Choice Questions
• Yes/No Questions
• Questions with ‘WH’ Words

Points to Remember When Using Interrogative Sentences

Uses of interrogative sentences, examples of interrogative sentences, check your understanding of interrogative sentences, frequently asked questions on interrogative sentences in english, what is an interrogative sentence.

An interrogative sentence is one which is generally used to ask a question in order to gather information about something. It can be questions about anything at all – casual or specific.

Take a look at the definitions given below to have a better understanding of what interrogative sentences are.

An interrogative sentence, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “a sentence that asks a question or makes a request for information.” According to the Collins Dictionary, an interrogative sentence is one “denoting a form or construction used in asking a question.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an interrogative sentence as one “having the form or force of a question.”

Types of Interrogative Sentences with Examples

Interrogative sentences, normally used to ask someone about something, can be categorised into three different types namely,

• Questions with ‘Wh’ Words

Now, let us look at each type of interrogative sentence in detail.

This type of interrogative sentences can be used to find out about someone’s choice about their likes, dislikes and preferences.

For example:

• Do you prefer coffee or tea along with breakfast?
• What would you choose?
• Do you like reading books or watching movies?

This type of interrogative sentence, as the name suggests, only gets a yes or a no for an answer.

• Will you come to the library with me?
• Do you like ice cream?
• Do you know the answer to this question?

These types of interrogative sentences are used when you want to gather more information rather than just a yes or a no. These sentences begin with ‘Wh’ words like what, where, when, why, whom, which, whose and how.

• What is your name?
• Why are you late?
• Where are you from?
• When can you come?
• Whose book is this?
• Whom did you meet?
• Which book is it?
• How will you do it?

Now that you know that there are different types of interrogative sentences, let us look at a few points to remember when forming interrogative sentences.

• Start the interrogative sentence with an auxiliary verb , a modal verb or a ‘Wh’ question word starting with a capital letter.
• End the interrogative sentence with a question mark . This is also the first thing that lets one identify an interrogative sentence.
• The structure of an interrogative sentence is a slightly reversed structure of a declarative sentence . So the structure of an interrogative sentence can be said to be Auxiliary Verb/Main Verb/Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb (in case there is more than one verb in the sentence) + the rest of the sentence.

Though the basic purpose of an interrogative sentence is to ask a question, there is a lot more that interrogative sentences can do. Given below are the uses or rather functions of interrogative sentences.

• To ask a direct question
• To request clarification
• To confirm something
• To gather information

Take a look at the following examples of interrogative sentences so that you can have a better idea of how to use them accurately.

Asking a direct question

• What are your plans for the holidays?
• Where are you going?
• When is your father leaving for Turkey?

Requesting clarification

• When you say ‘advancements in technology’, what did you exactly mean?
• Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?
• So, is it mandatory that we should wear a white shirt for the event?

Confirming something

• Aren’t you the one who has been elected as the president of the Literary Club?
• Could you please repeat it?
• Is this the syllabus for the internal assessment?

Gathering information

• What are the things that we will have to carry with us?
• What are the documents that we should submit?
• Can you tell me how to make these cookies?

Change the following declarative sentences into interrogative sentences. Check out the example given below for clarification.

Declarative: She teaches English.

Interrogative: Does she teach English?

1. Cyril is on the way.

2. Rahul is the class leader.

3. Varun bought a new phone.

4. He is a fan of Marvel movies.

5. Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

6. Tharun was accused of cheating.

7. Valerie is a doctor.

8. All the new recruits have been asked to attend a training session.

9. They will be here in an hour.

10. Jenita speaks French.

Given below are the answers to the exercise.

1. Is Cyril on the way?

2. Is Rahul the class leader?

3. Did Varun buy a new phone?

4. Is he a fan of Marvel movies?

5. Is Tokyo the capital of Japan?

6. Was Tharun accused of cheating?

7. Is Valerie a doctor?

8. Have all the new recruits been asked to attend a training session?

9. Will they be here in an hour?

10. Does Jenita speak French?

What is an interrogative sentence?

An interrogative sentence is one which is generally used to ask a question in order to gather information about something. It can be questions about anything at all – casual or specific.

What is the definition of an interrogative sentence?

What are the different types of interrogative sentences, what are the uses of interrogative sentences.

Given below are the uses or rather functions of interrogative sentences.

Give some examples of interrogative sentences.

Given below are a few examples of interrogative sentences.

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Narration change of wh questions examples and rules | reported speech wh question.

Table of Contents:

Direct and indirect speech wh questions examples :, wh word used as the subject –.

WH Word Used as the Object – 

Wh word used as an adverb –

Wh word + noun –

WH Questions with Auxiliary Verbs :

(a) wh question with  be verbs :.

(B) WH Questions with Modal Auxiliary Verbs:

Rules for Direct and Indirect Speech of WH Questions

Start with  3  general rules:.

Change the Narration of Wh Questions - step by step process :–

In the indirect speech, the word order must be normal i.e.  Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb + object.

Move on to the Final type -->

Direct and Indirect Speech of WH Question with  Be-Verb :

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O copy paste ki dukaan. Ye examples publish krne se pehle check to kr leta. It is a moral responsibility as a teacher that you do not mislead learners. Just for the sake of few ads money you are presenting something which is grammatically wrong. Please have a look at the examples. (Agar shi me kuch aata hai to) Looser

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A lot of mistakes in your question jo ata tha wo bhi bhulanay lagay thay.

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Interrogative Sentences: Characteristics, Types, and Uses

An interrogative sentence is one of the functional categories of sentence that consists of question word(s) like what, why, how, when, do, is, are, will, etc. Interrogative sentences are also called questions because of their purpose of use.

Sentences that we use to ask questions are called interrogative sentences. An interrogative sentence is always followed by a question mark or note of interrogation. There are four kinds of interrogative sentences: verbal questions, wh questions, tag questions, and alternative questions.

Try  The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes (Amazon Link)  to understand the major rules and subtle guidelines of English grammar and usage. This best-seller includes easy-to-understand rules, abundant examples, dozens of reproducible quizzes, and pre and post-tests for middle and high schoolers, college students, ESL students, homeschoolers, and more.

In this post, I’ll discuss the characteristics and types of interrogative sentences. Let me begin with the characteristics of interrogative sentences.

Table of Contents

6 characteristics of an interrogative sentence.

The fundamental characteristic of an interrogative sentence is that it is a direct question that must be punctuated with a note of interrogation. I have studied several grammar books and scholarly articles on interrogative sentences. From my research,  I found six characteristics in total. Here they are.

1. An interrogative sentence is used to ask questions or request information.

This is an ideal example of an interrogative sentence because the speaker is looking for an answer (name) to a question through this sentence.

2. It must have question word(s): interrogative pronouns or auxiliary verbs.

Example: How are you?

3. An interrogative sentence/question always ends with a question mark.

The sentence ends with a question mark (?).

4. Interrogative sentences can be affirmative or negative .

Example 2: Why do you not meet your teacher? (Negative Interrogative)

5. Interrogative sentences can be in any tense: present, past, or future.

Example 2: When did you go to the office yesterday? (Past)

Example 3: When will you go to the office tomorrow? (Future)

6. Structurally, interrogative sentences are formed from their assertive/declarative counterpart.

He won the game. (Assertive)

4 Types of Interrogative Sentences

In total, interrogative sentences can be of four kinds based on their function and structure. The purpose of every question is to get an answer. Sometimes the answer can be a simple yes or no.

One’s question also may require information or an explanation as an answer. Depending on the nature of the answer, we can determine the type of that particular question.

Verbal or Yes-No or True-False Questions

A question that begins with a verb is called a verbal question. These kinds of questions are asked to know whether a statement is true or false. You can always answer a verbal question with YES or NO, and for this reason, this type of question is also called a Yes-No question.

Example 3: Can you cook? Answer: Yes.

Thus, we find that a verbal interrogative sentence or question can begin with a to be, auxiliary, or modal verb. Let’s see some more examples of verbal questions.

Wh Questions

Questions that begin with a wh-word are called wh questions. To know wh questions, we must understand what wh-word is. Wh-words are question words that usually start with w and h . There are nine wh-words that we can use to make wh questions.

What, where, when, who, whose, why, whom, which, and how are the nine wh-words that we can use to form wh questions. Remember! Though “how” doesn’t start with w and h, it is still considered a wh-word.

Every wh-word has its specific purpose to be used. Here I present the uses of every wh-word in the table. To learn the uses of all the wh-words in detail, you can read my other article titled WH Questions in English with Examples , written exclusively for wh questions.

Tag Questions

Tag questions are short questions that take place after a statement. Verbal and wh questions are considered full-length questions, while tag questions are not.

Let’s see some examples of tag questions.

Example 2: Reza won’t go there, will he ?

Example 3: Romana likes classical music, doesn’t she ?

Another characteristic of tag questions is that if the tag is negative, the “verb” and “not” have to be written as a single word in a contracted form.

Example 2: They are selected for the next episode, aren’t they? [“Aren’t” is the contraction of “are not”]

In the following table, let’s see some contracted forms of some most common negative verbs with example sentences.

Let’s recap the characteristics of a tag question that we already discussed.

Choice or Alternative Questions

Alternative questions are like the general question regarding their structure. The difference is that this type of question provides choices to the listener at the end of the question. The above examples can help you get it correct.

Let’s see the structure of choice/alternative questions and some examples.

Example 2: Did you take tea or coffee?

Example 4: Do you want to dance or sing?

You can post some examples in the comment box if the idea of different interrogative sentences is clear. Or, if you have any confusion, ask me in the comment box. I’ll try to provide you with feedback.

Uses of Interrogative Sentences

Besides asking for information, we can use interrogative sentences to make requests , provide suggestions, offer someone something or ask for permission . Let’s see some examples of each use of interrogative sentences.

Final Words

Interrogative sentences are one of the most common sentence types that we need to use in our everyday conversation and writing as well. By asking questions, we can collect information and remove confusion regarding anything.

In this post, I discussed interrogative questions’ characteristics, types, and uses. I hope this helps you understand everything about interrogative sentences.

Happy learning!

FAQ: Interrogative Sentences

An interrogative sentence is primarily used to ask questions or seek information, and it typically ends with a question mark (?).

2. How do interrogative sentences differ from declarative or imperative sentences?

Word order often helps identify the sentence as a question. For instance, auxiliary verbs often precede the subject in interrogative sentences, as in “Are you coming?”

Yes. Indirect questions, which do not always end with a question mark, are more polite forms of interrogative sentences. E.g., “I wonder where she went.”

5. What are “wh-words,” and why are they significant in interrogative sentences?

“Wh-words” include what, when, where, why, who, and how. They are crucial in framing open-ended questions that seek specific information.

Not always. While tag questions can seek confirmation, they can also express beliefs or emotions, as in “It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?”

Negative questions can express surprise, show interest, or seek confirmation. E.g., “Didn’t she come to the party?” might indicate surprise that she missed it.

8. How do choice questions differ from yes/no questions?

Choice questions present options within the question, expecting an answer from the given choices, whereas yes/no questions seek an affirmative or negative response.

While the basic premise of seeking information remains, the structure, phrasing, and intonation can differ based on linguistic and cultural nuances.

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Niaj A A Khan is an ESL Instructor with over 8 years of experience in teaching & developing resources at different universities and institutes. Mr. Khan is also a passionate writer working on his first book, "Learn English at Ease."

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Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students

• Updated on  
• Jan 10, 2024

Reported Speech: Reported Speech or also known as indirect speech, is typically used to convey what has been said by someone at a particular point of time. However, owing to the nuances of the systems involved, English grammar may be a complicated language to learn and understand. But once you get hold of the grammar fundamentals , you can be a pro. It’s these fundamentals that will help you create a solid base. The rest of the journey becomes much easier once you get a good grip on the english grammar for competitive exams . So, today, we’re going to talk about one of those basics that is an important part of English grammar, i.e., Reported Speech with multiple definition, usage with examples and numerous practise exercicses.

This Blog Includes:

What is reported speech, definition of reported speech, reported speech rules, rules for modal verbs, rules for pronouns, rules for change in tenses, rules for changing statements into reported speech, rules for changing interrogative sentences into reported speech, rules for changing commands and requests into indirect speech, tips to practise reported speech, fun exercises for reported speech with answers.

When we use the exact words spoken by someone, it is known as Direct Speech or Reported Speech. Reporting speech is a way to effectivley communication something that has been spoken, usually in the past, by the speaker. It is also possible to describe it from the speaker’s perspective from the third person. Since you are only communicating the message and are not repeating the speaker’s exact words, you do not need to use quotation marks while using this type of speaking.

For example: Rita said to Seema, “ I am going to bake a cake ”

Here we are using the exact words spoken by Rita, however, reported or Indirect speech is used when we are reporting something said by someone else but we do not use the exact words. So, we use this form of speech to talk about the past. For example:

Rita told Seema that she was going to bake a cake

In this case, we haven’t used the exact words of Rita but conveyed her message.

Difference Between Reporting Clause and Reported Speech

The words that come before the inverted commas are known as the reporting clause, in the example given above, the reporting clause will be – Rita said to Seema, where ‘said’ is the verb and is known as the reporting clause/verb . The words written within the inverted commas are known as the Reported speech, in the above example, the reported speech is “I am going to bake a cake” .

Also Read:  55+ Phrases with Meaning to Boost Your Vocabulary

Here are some common definitions of reported speech for your reference:

➡️ An Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of reported speech is “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.”

➡️ Reporter speech is described as “speech which tells you what someone said but does not use the person’s actual words” by the Collins Dictionary.

➡️ “The act of reporting something that was said, but not using the same words,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

➡️ Reported speech is defined as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said” by the Macmillan Dictionary.

Also Read: Adjective: Definition, Usage, Example, Forms, Types

Now let us take a look at the rules for changing direct speech to indirect or reported speech –

➡️ First and foremost, we do not use inverted commas in reported speech which must be clear from the example given above.

➡️ We use conjunctions like ‘if’, and ‘whether’ after the reporting verb in reported speech

➡️ The reporting verb’s tense is never altered.

➡️ The verb of reporting varies according to sense: it can be told, inquired, asked, etc.

For example: Direct : Mohan said to Sohan, “I am going to school” Reported : Mohan told Sohan that he is going to school

Also Read:  Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score

Modal words are used to show a sense of possibility, intent, necessity or ability. Some common examples of verbs can include should, can and must. These words are used to express hypothetical conditions. Check the table of contents below for rules with examples of modal verbs.

Also Read: Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers for Class 12

Listed below are some common rules followed in pronouns using reported speech:

✏️ We change the first-person pronouns (I, my, us, our, me, we) as per the subject of the reporting verb in the reported speech. ✏️ We change the second-person pronouns (you, your, yourself) as per the object of the reporting verb in the reported speech. ✏️ There is no change in the third-person pronouns.

For example:

Direct : Rita said, “I like the book.” Reported : Rita said that she likes the book.

Direct : Arun said to me, “Do you like to eat cakes?” Reported : Arun asked me if I liked eating cakes.

Direct : Ravi said, “I enjoy fishing.” Reported : Ravi said that he enjoys fishing.

Also Read: Reported Speech Interrogative: Rules, Examples & Exercise

Here are some common ruled used for change in tenses:

✏️ The tense of the reported speech is not changed if the reporting verb is in the present or the future tense. ✏️ If a historical fact, a universal reality or a habitual fact is conveyed in a direct speech. The indirect speech tense will not change. ✏️ If the reporting verb is in the past tense, then it will change the tense of the reported speech as follows:

Direct : Reema says, “I am going out.” Reported : Reema says that she is going out.

Direct : Ramesh said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Reported : Ramesh said that honesty is the best policy.

Direct : Vishnu said that, “India gained independence in 1947.” Reported : Vishnu said that India gained independence in 1947.

Direct : Akshat will say, “I want a slice of cake.” Reported : Akshat will say that he wants a slice of cake.

Direct : Reena said, “I am writing a novel.” Reported : Reena said that she was writing a novel.

Direct : Ayushi said, “I was working on my project.” Reported : Ayushi said that she had been working on her project.

Also Read: Exploring the Types of Reported Speech: A Complete Guide

Here are some common rules for changing statements into reported speech:

✏️ The “said to” reporting verb is changed to “told,” “replied,” “remarked,” ✏️ We do not change the object i.e., the reporting verb is not followed by an object. ✏️ We drop the inverted commas and use a conjunction to join the reporting clause and speech/ ✏️ The laws are followed for the changing of pronouns, tenses, etc.

Direct: Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.” Indirect: Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest.

Direct : Satish said to me, “I am very happy here.” Indirect : Satish told me that he was very happy there.

Direct : He said, “I can do this work.” Indirect: He said that he could do that work.

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Interrogative Sentences

Here are some common rules followed for changing interrogative sentences into reported speech:

✏️ The reporting verb “say” is transformed into “ask, inquire,” ✏️ By inserting the subject before the verb, the interrogative clause is converted into a declaration and the full stop is inserted at the end of the sentence. ✏️ The wh-word is repeated in the sentence if the interrogative sentence has a wh-word (who, where, where, how, why, etc). This works as a conjunction. ✏️ If the asking phrase is a yes-no answer style phrase (with auxiliary verbs are, were, were, do, did, have, shall, etc.), then if or whether is used as a conjunction. ✏️ In the reported speech, the auxiliaries do, did, does drop in a positive question. ✏️ The conjunction after the reporting clause is not used.

Direct: I said to him, “Where are you going?” Indirect: Tasked him where he was going.

Direct: He said to me, “Will you go there?” Indirect: He asked me if I would go there.

Direct: My friend said to Deepak, “Have you ever been to Agra?” Indirect: My friend asked Deepak if he had ever been to Agra.

How to Change Sentences into Indirect Speech

The reporting verb is changed into command, order, say, enable, submit, etc. in imperative sentences that have commands.

✏️ By positioning it before the verb, the imperative mood is converted into the infinitive mood. The auxiliary ‘do’ is dropped in the case of negative sentences, and ‘to’ is substituted after ‘not

Direct: She said to me, “Open the window.” Indirect: She ordered me to open the window.

Direct: The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.” Indirect: The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy.

Direct: I said to him, “Leave this place at once.” Indirect: I told him to leave that place at once.

Also Read: Direct And Indirect Speech Questions

Indirect speech, sometimes referred to as reported speech, is used to communicate ideas without directly quoting another person. The following advice will help you become proficient in reported speech:

👉 Understand the Basics : Ensure you have a solid understanding of direct speech (quoting exact words) before moving on to reported speech.

👉 Identify Reporting Verbs : Recognize common reporting verbs such as “say,” “tell,” “ask,” “inform,” etc. These verbs are often used to introduce reported speech.

👉 Practice with Various Tenses : Work on reported speech with different tenses (present, past, future) to become comfortable with each.

👉 Use Reporting Words Appropriately : Experiment with different reporting words to convey the speaker’s attitude or emotion accurately. For example, “complain,” “admit,” “suggest.”

👉 Write Dialogues : Create dialogues and convert them into reported speech. This will help you practice both creating and transforming speech.

👉 Use Authentic Materials : Practice reported speech by reading books, articles, or watching videos. Try to convert the direct speech in these materials into reported speech.

Here are a few exercises for reported speech along with answers:

Change the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech.

• Answer: She said that she loved watching movies.
• Answer: He told me not to forget to buy some milk on my way home.
• Answer: Peter said that he would visit his grandparents the following weekend.
• Answer: She announced that she had finished her homework.
• Answer: They exclaimed that they were going to the beach the next day.

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9

Combine the following sentences into reported speech.

• Answer: Mary said that she was going to the store because she needed some groceries.
• Answer: He remarked that it was raining outside.
• Answer: She explained that she couldn’t attend the meeting because she had a doctor’s appointment.
• Answer: They assured us that they would finish the project by Friday.
• Answer: He admitted that he had never been to Paris.

Transform the sentences into reported speech.

• Answer: She asked why I was late.
• Answer: He requested me to help him with that heavy box.
• Answer: She inquired if I could pass her the salt.
• Answer: The guide told the visitors not to touch the paintings.
• Answer: He said that he must finish that report that day.

Direct And Indirect Speech Questions: Comprehensive Guide with Examples

Reporting speech is the way we present our own or other people’s words. Direct speech and indirect speech are the two primary categories of reported speech. Direct communication restates the speaker’s precise words or their words as we recall them: “I didn’t realize it was midnight,” Barbara remarked.

The speech that is being reported may be declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, or imperative.

Quote marks are not used when putting the speaker’s words or ideas into a sentence in reported speech. Typically, noun clauses are employed. When reading a reported speech, the reader should not assume that the words are exactly what the speaker said; frequently, they are paraphrased.

The reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory.

We hope that this blog helped you learn about the basics of Reported Speech. Planning for English proficiency exams like IELTS or TOEFL ? Our Leverage Edu experts are here to guide you through your exam preparation with the best guidance, study materials and online classes! Sign up for a free demo with us now!

Vaishnavi has 2+ years of experience in SEO and Content Marketing. She is highly proficient in English, possessing exceptional language skills and a deep understanding of English grammar and communication. Currently working on Ed Tech, Finance, Lifestyle, and other niches. All her works are infused with love for writing!

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• Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Definitions, Formula, Uses and Examples

Definition, Key Points and Examples of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past up until another point. It combines the past perfect and continuous tenses to show that an action was in progress before a specific past moment. This tense helps convey how long an action had been happening before it was interrupted or completed. Understanding and using the past perfect continuous tense correctly can enhance your ability to describe past events with clarity and detail.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Definition

Definition: The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that was ongoing over some time in the past, up until another point in the past.

It combines the past perfect tense (which indicates an action completed before another past action) with the continuous aspect (which shows ongoing action).

The structure is: "had been" + present participle (verb ending in -ing).

This tense helps to express how long an action had been happening before a specific past moment or event.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Formula

The formula for the past perfect continuous tense is:

Subject + had been + present participle (verb ending in -ing)

For example:

She had been studying for hours before the exam started.

They had been working on the project all night when the power went out.

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense describes actions that were ongoing in the past up to a certain point in time. Here are the rules and structure for forming this tense:

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Rules

1. structure.

Positive Sentences:

Subject + had been + present participle (verb + -ing)

Example: She had been studying for hours.

Negative Sentences:

Subject + had not been + present participle (verb + -ing)

Example: They had not been working on the project.

Interrogative Sentences:

Had + subject + been + present participle (verb + -ing)?

Example: Had you been reading before the meeting?

Negative Interrogative Sentences:

Had + subject + not been + present participle (verb + -ing)?

Example: Hadn't she been practising the piano?

2. Usage Rules

Action Duration:

Use the past perfect continuous to emphasise the duration or ongoing nature of an action that was happening continuously up to a specific point in the past.

Example: They had been playing soccer for two hours when it started to rain.

Action Before Another Past Action:

It indicates that the ongoing action happened before another past action or event.

Example: By the time the show started, she had been preparing for it all week.

Focus on the Continuity:

This tense highlights the continuity or repeated nature of the action in the past.

Example: He had been waiting for the bus for over an hour when it finally arrived.

Time Expressions:

Common time expressions used with the past perfect continuous include: for, since, all day, for a long time, up to that point, etc.

Example: I had been studying English for three years before I moved to London.

3. Examples with Explanations

Positive: She had been working at the company for five years before she got promoted.

This sentence shows that the action of working was ongoing for a period up to the promotion.

Negative: They had not been travelling frequently before their vacation.

This indicates that the action of travelling did not happen regularly before a certain past event (the vacation).

Interrogative: Had you been watching the movie when I called you?

This asks if the action of watching was ongoing when another past action (the call) occurred.

Negative Interrogative: Hadn't he been sleeping when the alarm went off?

This questions if the action of sleeping was not ongoing up to the point when the alarm rang.

Understanding these rules helps in effectively using the past perfect continuous tense to describe actions that were in progress before another past action or point in time.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Structure

Structure of the past perfect continuous tense in different forms:

Applications of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing over some time up to a specific point in the past. Here are its primary uses:

1. Describing the Duration of an Action

Use: To emphasise the duration of an action that was ongoing up until a particular point in the past.

Example: She had been studying for three hours when her friend called.

This indicates that the studying was ongoing for three hours before the friend called.

2. Showing Cause and Effect

Use: To explain the reason behind a past action or situation by referring to a continuous action that happened before it.

Example: He was tired because he had been working all night.

This shows that his tiredness is a result of working continuously through the night.

3. Describing Ongoing Actions Before Another Past Action

Use: To highlight that one action was in progress over a period of time before another past action occurred.

Example: By the time they arrived, she had been waiting for them for over an hour.

This demonstrates that her waiting was an ongoing action that happened before their arrival.

4. Indicating Repeated Actions

Use: To describe actions that were repeated or habitual over a period of time in the past.

Example: They had been visiting their grandparents every summer before they moved abroad.

This shows that visiting grandparents was a repeated action during the summer before the move.

5. Setting the Scene in the Past

Use: To provide background information or context for a past event by describing actions that were ongoing up to that point.

Example: When the power went out, we had been working on the project for hours.

This sets the scene by showing that the project work was ongoing before the power outage occurred.

6. Expressing Unfinished Actions

Use: To refer to actions that were in progress and were not completed by a certain point in the past.

Example: I had been writing the report when the computer crashed.

This indicates that the report writing was not finished by the time the computer crashed.

By using the Past Perfect Continuous Tense, you can effectively convey the ongoing nature, duration, and impact of past actions, providing clearer context and understanding of past events.

Examples of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Here are some examples of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

Describing the Duration of an Action

She had been reading the book for two hours when her friend arrived.

(She started reading the book two hours before her friend arrived, and was still reading at that time.)

Showing Cause and Effect

They were exhausted because they had been running for miles.

(Their exhaustion was caused by running continuously for miles.)

Describing Ongoing Actions Before Another Past Action

By the time the meeting started, he had been preparing the presentation for weeks.

(He started preparing the presentation weeks before the meeting and continued up to that point.)

Indicating Repeated Actions

She had been attending yoga classes regularly before she injured her knee.

(She regularly attended yoga classes before the injury occurred.)

Setting the Scene in the Past

When the movie began, they had been waiting in line for tickets for an hour.

(They were in the process of waiting for an hour before the movie started.)

Expressing Unfinished Actions

I had been cooking dinner when the guests arrived unexpectedly.

(Cooking dinner was an ongoing action that was interrupted by the arrival of the guests.)

Review Your Learning on Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Here are some questions to review your understanding of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

Identify the Tense

She had been studying for hours before the test started. What tense is used in this sentence?

Complete the Sentence

By the time they arrived, I __________ (finish) my homework. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb.

Convert the Sentence

He had been working on the project for months. Convert this sentence into the negative form.

Form the Question

They had been playing football all afternoon. Form a question using this sentence.

Identify the Error

She had been cooking dinner when the power went out. Is there any mistake in this sentence? If so, what is it?

Explain the Usage

Why would you use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense instead of the Past Simple Tense in a sentence?

Choose the Correct Answer

By the time I joined the team, they __________ (already / be) working on the new strategy for two weeks. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

Rewrite the Sentence

They had been travelling across Europe. Rewrite this sentence in the negative form.

Select the Example

Which of the following sentences correctly uses the Past Perfect Continuous Tense? a) She has been reading the book. b) They had been studying for the exam. c) He will be cooking dinner.

Fill in the Blanks

I __________ (wait) for the bus for 30 minutes when it finally arrived. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb.

Find Out if You Got them All Right from the Answers Below

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

had finished

He had not been working on the project for months.

Had they been playing football all afternoon?

There is no error in this sentence.

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense shows that an action was ongoing in the past and completed before another past action. The Past Simple Tense describes actions completed in the past without emphasising the duration.

had already been

They had not been travelling across Europe.

They had been studying for the exam.

had been waiting

Takeaways from the Page

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past and continued until another action in the past occurred.

It highlights the duration of an action that was happening before a specific point in the past.

The tense is formed using the structure: had been + present participle (e.g., "had been working").

Key uses include showing the duration of action before another past event and indicating cause or effect relationships in past contexts.

Practice with various examples and exercises helps in mastering its correct usage in different situations.

FAQs on Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Definitions, Formula, Uses and Examples

1. What are some past perfect continuous tense examples?

Some past perfect continuous tense examples include:

They had been travelling for hours before they finally reached their destination.

She had been writing her novel all night when the sun came up.

2. What is the past perfect continuous tense formula?

The past perfect continuous tense formula is had been + present participle (e.g., "had been studying").

3. How do you use the past perfect continuous tense structure?

The past perfect continuous tense structure is:

Positive: Subject + had been + verb + -ing (e.g., He had been playing.)

Negative: Subject + had not been + verb + -ing (e.g., She had not been sleeping.)

Interrogative: Had + subject + been + verb + -ing? (e.g., Had they been waiting?)

Negative Interrogative: Had + subject + not been + verb + -ing? (e.g., Had you not been studying?)

4. Can you provide some past perfect continuous tense sentences?

Sure, some past perfect continuous tense sentences are:

They had been working on the house before they moved in.

I had been waiting for the bus when it started to rain.

5. What are the past perfect continuous tense rules?

The past perfect continuous tense rules include using had been followed by the verb in its present participle form to indicate an ongoing action that was happening before another past action.

6. What is the definition of the past perfect continuous tense?

The definition of the past perfect continuous tense is to describe an action that was ongoing in the past up until another past action occurred, emphasising the duration of the activity.

7. How is the past perfect continuous tense formula used in sentences?

The past perfect continuous tense formula is used in sentences to indicate that an action was ongoing up until another point in the past. For example, "She had been cooking when the phone rang."

8. What does the past perfect continuous tense structure look like in negative sentences?

The past perfect continuous tense structure in negative sentences is: Subject + had not been + verb + -ing (e.g., "He had not been running").

9. How do you form past perfect continuous tense sentences?

To form past perfect continuous tense sentences, use the structure: Subject + had been + verb + -ing (e.g., "They had been playing soccer").

10. What is the past perfect continuous tense definition in grammar?

The past perfect continuous tense definition in grammar refers to a tense used to express an ongoing action that was happening before another action took place in the past.

11. How is the past perfect continuous tense formula applied in questions?

The past perfect continuous tense formula is applied in questions as Had + subject + been + verb + -ing? (e.g., "Had you been working on the project?").

12. What is the past perfect continuous tense structure for interrogative sentences?

The past perfect continuous tense structure for interrogative sentences is: Had + subject + been + verb + -ing? (e.g., "Had they been studying for the exam?").