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Reported questions, requests and orders
B1 B1 grammar · lesson 10 of 23
After statements, we also need to report questions, polite requests and orders. The word order and the verb patterns are different, so this lesson shows you exactly how.
Reported questions
In a reported question, the word order is like a normal statement: subject + verb. We don’t use do/does/did, and there is no question mark. Tenses move back, as in reported statements.
Wh- questions
Keep the question word (what, where, when, why, how…), then use subject + verb.
Yes/no questions
Use if or whether + subject + verb.
The most common reporting verb for questions is ask. We can say She asked or She asked me. You can also use want to know or wonder: He wanted to know where I lived.
| Direct question | Reported question |
|---|---|
| «Where do you live?» | She asked me where I lived. |
| «What are you doing?» | He asked what I was doing. |
| «Did you see Tom?» | She asked if I had seen Tom. |
| «Can you swim?» | He asked whether I could swim. |
Requests and orders
For requests, orders and advice, use a verb + person + to + infinitive. For negative ones, use not to.
- ask someone to do (a polite request)
- tell someone to do (an order or instruction)
«How old are you?» → The doctor asked me how old I was.
«Why are you late?» → My boss asked me why I was late.
«Are you hungry?» → Mum asked if we were hungry.
«Have you finished?» → The teacher asked whether we had finished.
«Could you open the window, please?» → Anna asked me to open the window.
«Sit down!» → The teacher told us to sit down.
«Don’t touch the paint!» → He told the children not to touch the paint.
«Please don’t be late.» → She asked me not to be late.
Common mistakes
✗ He asked me where did I work.
✓ He asked me where I worked.
✗ She asked me do I like coffee.
✓ She asked me if I liked coffee.
✗ The guide told us don’t take photos.
✓ The guide told us not to take photos.
✗ I asked him that he help me.
✓ I asked him to help me.