1. Word Order (I asked where Alice was) In English, the subject usually follows the verb in reported questions. Also, auxiliary verb do is not used. |
Examples: Direct: Where's the car? Indirect: I asked where the was. |
Direct: What do you want me to do? Indirect: I asked what he wanted me to do. |
Similar structure is used for reporting answers to questions. Examples: I had no idea how I got here. She instructed where to go buy them. |
2. Omitted Question Marks In reported questions, question marks do not apply. |
Example: Jess asked when the plane would leave. Dean asked where the key was. |
3. Yes/No Questions (He asked if...) If/Whether are used in yes/no reported questions. |
Examples: The customer asked if/whether we served salad. Shelby doesn't know if/whether she can go. |
However, present tense isn't use after if to talk about the future in reported questions. |
Examples: I'm not sure if I'll make it next week. Jack is unsure if he'll get his salary on time. |
4. Say And Tell (Answers, Not Questions) In reported questions, say and tell aren't used. However, they are used to introduce answers to questions. |
Examples: He never told me where he's from. They didn't say what time they're coming. |