Reported speech (questions/commands/requests)
B2 Upper IntermediateReported speech for questions, commands, and requests involves shifting tenses and changing sentence structure to describe what someone else asked or ordered. It requires using reporting verbs like 'ask', 'tell', or 'order' followed by specific clause patterns.
Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, the word order changes from interrogative to statement form (subject before verb), and the question mark is removed. For yes/no questions, use if or whether to connect the clauses. For wh- questions, use the original question word.
- Tenses usually shift backward (e.g., present simple becomes past simple).
- Auxiliary verbs like 'do', 'does', and 'did' are omitted in the reported clause.
Reporting Commands and Requests
reporting verb + object + (not) to + infinitive
Commands and requests do not require tense shifts in the reported clause because they use an infinitive structure. Use tell for commands and ask for requests.
Examples in Context
Common Mistakes
She asked me where was the bank.
She asked me where the bank was.
In reported questions, use statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.
He told to me to sit down.
He told me to sit down.
The verb 'tell' must be followed directly by an object without the preposition 'to'.
They asked me if did I like the food.
They asked me if I liked the food.
Do not use the auxiliary 'do/does/did' in reported yes/no questions.
Practice
Rewrite the direct question into reported speech: 'Where do you live?' she asked me.
Show answer
She asked me where I lived.
Answer:She asked me where I lived.
Why:The present simple 'do live' shifts to the past simple 'lived', and the word order changes to subject-verb.
Report this command: 'Don't open the window,' the teacher said to the students.
Show answer
The teacher told the students not to open the window.
Answer:The teacher told the students not to open the window.
Why:Negative commands use the pattern 'told + object + not to + infinitive'.
Report this yes/no question: 'Have you seen my keys?' he asked.
Show answer
He asked if I had seen his keys.
Answer:He asked if I had seen his keys.
Why:Yes/no questions use 'if' or 'whether', and the present perfect 'have seen' shifts to the past perfect 'had seen'.