<\/p>\n
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we tell someone what another person said, asked, or commanded\u2014without quoting their exact words. Instead of quotation marks, we use a reporting clause (e.g., \u201cShe said\u2026,\u201d \u201cHe asked\u2026,\u201d \u201cThey told me\u2026\u201d) followed by a clause that contains the content of the original message. When we report questions<\/strong> and commands<\/strong>, we must adjust word order, pronouns, time expressions, and often the tense.<\/p>\n Direct: She said, \u201cI am tired.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: She said (that) she was tired.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This guide focuses on the special rules for reported questions<\/strong> and reported commands\/requests<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Word order becomes statement order<\/strong> (subject before verb) in reported questions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n No question mark<\/strong> appears in reported questions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n For yes\/no questions, use if<\/strong> or whether<\/strong> to introduce the clause.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Keep the original wh-word<\/strong> (who, what, where, when, why, how) if the question has one.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use to + base verb<\/strong> to report commands and requests. For negatives, use not to + base verb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Adjust pronouns, time words, and tenses<\/strong> as needed for clarity and timeline.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n In direct questions, we usually invert the subject and auxiliary verb (\u201cAre you\u2026?\u201d, \u201cHave they\u2026?\u201d, \u201cCan she\u2026?\u201d). In reported questions, we use normal statement order and drop the question mark.<\/p>\n Direct: He asked, \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: He asked where I was going.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Direct: \u201cIs she coming?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: He asked if she was coming.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Notice the subject (I\/she) comes before the verb (was), and the question mark disappears.<\/p>\n If the question could be answered with yes or no, introduce the reported clause with if<\/strong> or whether<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Direct: She asked, \u201cDo you like coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: She asked if I liked coffee. \/ She asked whether I liked coffee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Both if<\/strong> and whether<\/strong> are correct. Use whether<\/strong> when presenting alternatives:<\/p>\n She asked whether I wanted tea or coffee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n When the question begins with a wh-word (who, what, where, when, why, how), keep that word and follow with statement order.<\/p>\n Direct: He asked, \u201cWhat time does the movie start?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: He asked what time the movie started.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Direct: They asked, \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: They asked how I was.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Do not add if<\/strong> or whether<\/strong> when a wh-word already exists.<\/p>\n If your reporting verb is in the past (asked, wanted to know, inquired), backshift the tense when appropriate:<\/p>\n Present simple \u2192 Past simple Present continuous \u2192 Past continuous Present perfect \u2192 Past perfect Will \u2192 Would No backshift is needed for universal truths or still-true facts:<\/p>\n He asked what time the sun rises.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Beyond ask<\/strong>, you can vary tone and formality with:<\/p>\n inquire<\/strong> (formal): She inquired whether the parcel had arrived.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n wonder<\/strong> (polite\/indirect): He wondered if she liked jazz.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n want to know<\/strong> (neutral): They wanted to know why we were late.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n These verbs are followed by the reported clause using if\/whether or a wh-word as appropriate.<\/p>\n Commands become reporting verb + object + to-infinitive<\/strong>. This pattern is central to reported imperatives.<\/p>\n Direct: The teacher said, \u201cOpen your books.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: The teacher told us to open<\/strong> our books.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Common reporting verbs for commands and orders:<\/p>\n tell, order, command, instruct, urge, warn, remind, advise<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Note the presence of an object<\/strong> (us, me, them) after the reporting verb when it makes sense: \u201ctold us<\/strong> to open.\u201d<\/p>\n To report prohibitions or negative imperatives, use not + to-infinitive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Direct: Mom said, \u201cDon\u2019t be late.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: Mom told me not to be late<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Direct: The sign said, \u201cDo not touch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: The sign warned people not to touch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If the original command has please<\/em>, remove it in the reported form and choose a suitable reporting verb (ask, request, beg, invite).<\/p>\n Direct: He said, \u201cPlease help me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: He asked me to help<\/strong> him.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Direct: She said, \u201cPlease don\u2019t tell anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: She begged me not to tell<\/strong> anyone.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Suggestions and advice are not quite commands, but they\u2019re reported with similar patterns.<\/p>\n advise + object + to-infinitive<\/strong> suggest + -ing<\/strong> (not \u201cto\u201d) \u201cLet\u2019s \u2026\u201d (we-form suggestion) \u2192 suggested + -ing<\/strong> \u201cLet him\/her \u2026\u201d (permission\/command to someone else) \u2192 told\/ordered + object + to + verb<\/strong> \u201cLet me \u2026\u201d (speaker asking permission) \u2192 asked to + verb<\/strong> Adjust pronouns and time\/place words to fit the new speaker, listener, and context.<\/p>\n Pronouns: \u201cI\u201d \u2192 \u201che\/she,\u201d \u201cmy\u201d \u2192 \u201chis\/her\u201d as needed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Time words: \u201ctoday\u201d \u2192 \u201cthat day,\u201d \u201ctomorrow\u201d \u2192 \u201cthe next day,\u201d \u201cyesterday\u201d \u2192 \u201cthe previous day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Place words: \u201chere\u201d \u2192 \u201cthere,\u201d \u201cthis\u201d \u2192 \u201cthat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Example:<\/p>\n Direct: \u201cWill you meet me here tomorrow?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reported: She asked if I would meet her there<\/strong> the next day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Direct: \u201cWhere did you park the car?\u201d she asked. Direct: \u201cDo not touch the exhibits,\u201d the guard said. Direct: \u201cCan you help me with this project?\u201d he asked. Direct: \u201cFinish your homework,\u201d my father said. Direct: \u201cLet\u2019s meet at the caf\u00e9,\u201d she said. Direct: \u201cWill you be free next week?\u201d they asked. Direct: \u201cPlease wait here,\u201d the receptionist said. Keeping question inversion<\/strong> Using a question mark<\/strong> Forgetting \u201cto\u201d in commands<\/strong> Adding \u201cif\u201d to wh-questions<\/strong> Using \u201csuggest to + verb\u201d<\/strong> Try these yourself before checking the suggested answers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget your keys,\u201d Mom said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cCan I borrow your book?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cPlease sit down,\u201d the teacher said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cLet\u2019s stay home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cDo you understand the instructions?\u201d the manager asked.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cFinish the report by Friday,\u201d the supervisor said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cWhy were you late yesterday?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cDon\u2019t use your phone here,\u201d the sign said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cLet him explain,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n She asked what I was doing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mom told me not to forget<\/strong> my keys.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n He asked if he could borrow<\/strong> my book.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The teacher asked me to sit<\/strong> down.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n She suggested staying<\/strong> home.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The manager asked whether I understood<\/strong> the instructions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The supervisor told me to finish<\/strong> the report by Friday.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n He asked why I had been late<\/strong> the previous day.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The sign told people not to use<\/strong> their phones there.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n She told them to let<\/strong> him explain.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Choose the right reporting verb<\/strong> for nuance (ask, inquire, wonder; tell, order, advise; request, beg, invite, remind).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n When the original meaning is still current or universally true, you may skip backshifting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Keep the listener\/object<\/strong> clear in commands: told \n
Key Principles You\u2019ll Use Again and Again<\/h2>\n
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Reported Questions: Word Order and Punctuation<\/h2>\n
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Yes\/No Questions: Use \u201cIf\u201d or \u201cWhether\u201d<\/h2>\n
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Wh- Questions: Keep the Wh-Word<\/h2>\n
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Tense Shifts (Backshifting) in Reported Questions<\/h2>\n
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\u201cDo you play?\u201d \u2192 She asked if I played<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cAre you coming?\u201d \u2192 He asked if I was coming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cHave you finished?\u201d \u2192 She asked if I had finished<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cWill you call me?\u201d \u2192 He asked if I would call<\/strong> him.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Reporting Verbs for Questions<\/h2>\n
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Reported Commands and Orders: The To-Infinitive Pattern<\/h2>\n
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Negative Commands<\/h2>\n
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Reported Requests: Polite Imperatives without \u201cPlease\u201d<\/h2>\n
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Suggestions and Advice (Including \u201cLet\u201d)<\/h2>\n
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Direct: \u201cTake a rest.\u201d \u2192 Reported: The doctor advised me to take<\/strong> a rest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Direct: \u201cLet\u2019s go out.\u201d \u2192 Reported: She suggested going<\/strong> out.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHandling \u201cLet\u201d<\/h3>\n
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\u201cLet\u2019s start.\u201d \u2192 He suggested starting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cLet him go.\u201d \u2192 She told them to let<\/strong> him go.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cLet me try.\u201d \u2192 He asked to try<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTime, Place, and Pronoun Changes<\/h2>\n
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Mixed Examples (Questions and Commands)<\/h2>\n
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Reported: She asked where I had parked<\/strong> the car.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reported: The guard told us not to touch<\/strong> the exhibits.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reported: He asked if I could help<\/strong> him with the project.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reported: My father told me to finish<\/strong> my homework.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reported: She suggested meeting<\/strong> at the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reported: They asked whether I would be free<\/strong> the following week.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reported: The receptionist asked me to wait<\/strong> there.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nCommon Pitfalls and How to Fix Them<\/h2>\n
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Wrong: He asked where was I going<\/em>.
Right: He asked where I was going<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Wrong: He asked where I was going?
Right: He asked where I was going.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Wrong: She told me open the door<\/em>.
Right: She told me to open the door<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Wrong: He asked if where I was going<\/em>.
Right: He asked where I was going<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Wrong: She suggested to go<\/em>.
Right: She suggested going<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nQuick Reference Table<\/h2>\n
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\n \nType<\/th>\n Direct<\/th>\n Reported<\/th>\n Key Change<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Yes\/No Question<\/td>\n \u201cDo you like it?\u201d<\/td>\n He asked if\/whether<\/strong> I liked it.<\/td>\n Add if\/whether; statement order<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Wh- Question<\/td>\n \u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/td>\n He asked where<\/strong> I was.<\/td>\n Keep wh-word; statement order<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Command<\/td>\n \u201cOpen the door.\u201d<\/td>\n He told me to open<\/strong> the door.<\/td>\n to-infinitive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Negative Command<\/td>\n \u201cDon\u2019t go.\u201d<\/td>\n He told me not to go<\/strong>.<\/td>\n not + to-infinitive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Request<\/td>\n \u201cPlease help me.\u201d<\/td>\n He asked me to help<\/strong> him.<\/td>\n remove \u201cplease\u201d; to-infinitive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Suggestion<\/td>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/td>\n He suggested going<\/strong>.<\/td>\n -ing form<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Permission (let me)<\/td>\n \u201cLet me do it.\u201d<\/td>\n He asked to do<\/strong> it.<\/td>\n asked to + verb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mini Drill: Convert to Reported Speech<\/h2>\n
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Suggested Answers<\/h3>\n
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Pro Tips for Natural, Accurate Reporting<\/h2>\n
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