B1 · Mittelstufe Kapitel 2

Reporting Questions and Requests

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46 Beispiele
5 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of relaying questions and instructions with precision and confidence.

  • Convert direct questions into reported 'if' or 'wh-' structures.
  • Transform commands and requests into reported speech using infinitives.
  • Apply negative constraints correctly when passing on instructions.
Become the master of the message.

Was du lernen wirst

Get ready to confidently share exactly what was said! This chapter empowers you to accurately report questions, whether they started with 'why' or needed a simple 'yes/no,' and even what commands you heard. You'll be a conversation expert!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: relay yes/no questions accurately using 'if'.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: report commands and negative instructions using infinitive structures.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

Imagine effortlessly sharing an interesting conversation you had, relaying a friend's question, or explaining an instruction you received. That's exactly what you'll master in this chapter on English reporting questions and requests! As a B1 English learner, you're already navigating many situations, and this skill will significantly boost your ability to communicate indirectly and naturally.
It's about confidently conveying information without quoting someone word-for-word every time.
We're going to explore how to transform direct questions and commands into smooth, flowing reported speech. You'll learn the essential techniques for reported Yes/No questions using phrases like asked if, how to handle wh-questions like what or where by carefully changing word order and tense, and even how to report clear instructions with reported commands using
told/asked + someone + to + verb.
We'll also cover how to report negative instructions, like when someone tells you "Don't do that!" Get ready to become a conversation expert and connect your ideas more seamlessly!

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, reported speech is about turning someone else's direct words into your own sentence, often after some time has passed. This usually means making a few key changes to the verb tense and word order. Let's break down the rules for B1 English grammar:
When reporting Yes/No questions, the key is to use a reporting verb like asked followed by if or whether (they're often interchangeable) and then convert the question into a statement. The verb tense typically shifts one step back into the past. For instance, Are you busy? becomes
She asked if I was busy.
Notice how are (present) becomes was (past) and the subject-verb order flips from a question to a statement.
For wh-questions (what, where, why, when, how), we use the wh-word itself as the connector, but again, the question structure transforms into a statement, and the tense shifts.
Where do you live?
becomes
He asked where I lived.
The auxiliary do disappears, and live (present) becomes lived (past). The word order is crucial: wh-word + subject + verb.
Reporting commands is simpler and very common. We use a reporting verb like told or asked, followed by the person who received the command, and then to + base verb. Clean your room! becomes
Mom told me to clean my room.
If the command is negative, like "Don't touch that!, we simply add not before to + verb«: »He asked us not to touch that." These structures let you recount instructions clearly and naturally.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Forgetting to shift tense or word order in questions.
✗ She asked where do I live.
✓ She asked where I lived.
*Explanation: After the reporting verb, the reported question becomes a statement with past tense and statement word order (subject-verb).*
  1. 1Using a question mark or question word order in reported questions.
✗ He asked if was I going?
✓ He asked if I was going.
*Explanation: Reported questions are statements, so they end with a period and follow statement word order, even with 'if' or 'whether'.*
  1. 1Mixing up 'tell' and 'say' for commands, or omitting 'to'.
✗ He said me clean my room.
✓ He told me to clean my room.
*Explanation: Use 'told' or 'asked' followed by an object (the person receiving the command) and then 'to + verb' for reported commands.*

Real Conversations

A

A

"Did Sarah say she'd be here on time?"
B

B

I asked her if she would be here on time, and she said yes!
A

A

I wonder what time the movie starts.
B

B

"The receptionist told me what time the movie started when I called. It's at 7 PM."
A

A

"The teacher kept saying, 'Don't forget your homework!'"
B

B

Yes, she often reminds us. She told us not to forget our homework earlier.

Quick FAQ

Q

Do I always have to change the tense when reporting questions or commands?

Generally, yes, especially when the reporting verb (e.g., asked, told) is in the past tense. This is called backshift. However, if the reported information is still true or very recent, you might sometimes keep the present tense, though it's safer for B1 learners to practice backshift.

Q

Can I use 'whether' instead of 'if' for reported Yes/No questions?

Absolutely! Both if and whether are correct and often interchangeable when reporting Yes/No questions.

He asked if I liked coffee
is the same as
He asked whether I liked coffee.

Q

What's the main difference between tell and ask when reporting commands?

You use told when relaying an instruction or order, and asked when relaying a request. For example,

The boss told me to finish the report
implies an instruction, while
My friend asked me to help him move
implies a polite request.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use reported speech constantly in daily conversation to summarize, relay information, and avoid repeating exact words. While the grammatical rules are fairly consistent, the choice of reporting verb can convey nuance. For instance,
He advised me to...
is softer than
He told me to...
.
In more informal settings, people might sometimes skip strict backshifting if the information is very current, but sticking to the rules is best for clarity and B1 fluency. There are no significant regional differences in the core structure of reported questions and commands.

Wichtige Beispiele (8)

1

My friend asked if I was going to the party tonight.

Mein Freund fragte, ob ich heute Abend zur Party kommen würde.

Berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen: 'Fragte, ob...'
2

The interviewer inquired whether I had previous experience in marketing.

Der Interviewer erkundigte sich, ob ich vorherige Erfahrung im Marketing hatte.

Berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen: 'Fragte, ob...'
3

She asked `what I wanted` for dinner.

Sie fragte, was ich zum Abendessen wollte.

Berichtete Fragen: Verwendung von W-Wörtern (was, wo, warum)
4

He wanted to know `where the nearest coffee shop was`.

Er wollte wissen, wo der nächste Coffeeshop war.

Berichtete Fragen: Verwendung von W-Wörtern (was, wo, warum)
5

My friend told me to send the funny meme.

Mein Freund sagte mir, ich solle das lustige Meme senden.

Indirekte Befehle: Jemandem sagen, was zu tun ist
6

The instructor asked us to pair up for the exercise.

Der Ausbilder bat uns, uns für die Übung zusammenzufinden.

Indirekte Befehle: Jemandem sagen, was zu tun ist
7

She told me not to open the package yet.

Sie sagte mir, ich solle das Paket noch nicht öffnen.

Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)
8

He asked us not to make any noise during the exam.

Er bat uns, während der Prüfung keinen Lärm zu machen.

Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

💡

Meistere das Zeitform-Backshifting

Stell dir vor, du erzählst eine alte Geschichte. Die Zeitform muss einen Schritt zurückgehen: 'Present Simple' wird 'Past Simple', 'will' wird 'would'. Das ist super wichtig, damit du natürlich klingst.
He asked if I worked there.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen: 'Fragte, ob...'
💡

Übe das "Ent-Invertieren"

Nach dem Wh-Wort denkst du sofort an „Subjekt-Verb“. Sag es dir innerlich vor:
She asked what I wanted,
nicht what wanted I. Das hilft dir, die richtige Reihenfolge zu verinnerlichen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Fragen: Verwendung von W-Wörtern (was, wo, warum)
💡

Wähle dein Verb weise

Das Berichtsverb (sagen, fragen, befehlen, raten) gibt den Ton an. 'Asked' ist höflicher als 'told', 'ordered' viel stärker. Wähle, was zur ursprünglichen Absicht passt.
She asked him to pass the salt.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Befehle: Jemandem sagen, was zu tun ist
💡

Wähle das richtige Verb

Wähle das passende Verb, um den Ton des Originals zu treffen. 'Asked' für Bitten, 'warned' für Warnungen, 'ordered' für strenge Befehle und 'advised' für Ratschläge. Das macht deine Aussage viel präziser!
He asked me not to forget.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)

Wichtige Vokabeln (5)

Reported relayed speech Infinitive to + verb base Command an order Inquire to ask Instruction a direction

Real-World Preview

briefcase

The Office Assistant

Review Summary

  • Asked + if + subject + verb
  • Asked + wh-word + subject + verb
  • Told/Ordered + someone + to + verb
  • Told + someone + NOT + to + verb

Häufige Fehler

In reported questions, do not use the auxiliary 'did'. The word order must be statement order, not question order.

Wrong: He asked me did I like it.
Richtig: He asked me if I liked it.

The 'not' must come before the 'to'. Placing it after is a common syntax error.

Wrong: She told me to not go.
Richtig: She told me not to go.

We use 'told' with an object (me, him, her), but 'said' is not followed by an object in this structure.

Wrong: He said me to leave.
Richtig: He told me to leave.

Next Steps

You have mastered a very difficult area of English grammar. Keep practicing in your daily conversations!

Rewrite a local news story using reported speech

Continue to: Talking About Life Experiences

Schnelle Übung (10)

Wähle die richtige Form, um den berichteten Befehl zu vervollständigen.

My mom told me ___ my room before dinner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to clean
Berichtete Befehle verwenden 'to' + die Grundform des Verbs nach dem Objekt. 'To clean' ist hier die korrekte Infinitivform.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Befehle: Jemandem sagen, was zu tun ist

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im berichteten Befehl.

Find and fix the mistake:

The teacher told studying harder.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The teacher told us to study harder.
Hier gibt es zwei Fehler! Du brauchst ein Objekt nach 'told' (wem wurde gesagt?), und das Verb nach 'to' muss in seiner Grundform sein ('study', nicht 'studying').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Befehle: Jemandem sagen, was zu tun ist

Wähle die korrekte Form, um die berichtete Frage zu vervollständigen.

My mom asked if I ___ finished my homework.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: had
Die direkte Frage 'Have you finished?' verwendet Present Perfect. Wenn sie mit einem berichtenden Verb in der Vergangenheit ('asked') wiedergegeben wird, verschiebt sie sich zum Past Perfect, also ist 'had finished' korrekt.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen: 'Fragte, ob...'

Wähle die korrekte Form, um den indirekten Befehl zu vervollständigen.

The coach warned the players _____ late for practice.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: not to be
Bei indirekten negativen Befehlen verwenden wir immer 'not to' gefolgt von der Grundform des Verbs. 'Don't be' und 'didn't be' sind für die indirekte Rede falsch.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)

Welche berichtete Frage ist grammatisch korrekt?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked if I needed help.
Für berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen verwenden wir 'if' oder 'whether', nicht 'that'. Außerdem muss die Wortstellung Subjekt-Verb sein, nicht die einer Frage. 'Did I need help' ist eine falsche Struktur für die indirekte Rede.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen: 'Fragte, ob...'

Wähle die richtige Form, um die indirekte Frage zu vervollständigen.

The teacher asked `what the answer ___` .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
Da das Berichtsverb asked in der Vergangenheit steht, verschiebt sich das Verb in der indirekten Frage ebenfalls in die Vergangenheit (was).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Fragen: Verwendung von W-Wörtern (was, wo, warum)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler in der berichteten Frage.

Find and fix the mistake:

He asked if was I ready for the presentation.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He asked if I was ready for the presentation.
Berichtete Fragen erfordern die Satzstellung einer Aussage (Subjekt + Verb), nicht die einer Frage. 'I was' ist korrekt, nicht 'was I'. Außerdem verschiebt sich die Zeitform von 'am' (impliziert in der direkten Frage) zu 'was'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen: 'Fragte, ob...'

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler in der indirekten Frage.

Find and fix the mistake:

He wondered why was she late?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He wondered why she was late.
In indirekten Fragen sollte die Wortstellung nach dem Wh-Wort Subjekt + Verb (Satzstellung) sein, nicht invertiert wie bei einer direkten Frage.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Fragen: Verwendung von W-Wörtern (was, wo, warum)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im indirekten Befehl.

Find and fix the mistake:

My sister told me don't touch her diary.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My sister told me not to touch her diary.
Die korrekte Struktur für indirekte negative Befehle ist 'Berichtsverb + Objekt + not to + Grundform des Verbs'. 'Don't' wird nur in direkten Befehlen verwendet.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)

Welcher Satz gibt den negativen Befehl korrekt wieder?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He advised them not to waste time.
Die korrekte Form für indirekte negative Befehle ist 'not to' + Grundform des Verbs. Optionen, die 'don't' oder 'didn't' verwenden, sind falsch.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte negative Befehle: 'nicht zu...' (Indirekte Rede)

Score: /10

Häufige Fragen (6)

Das ist, wenn du jemandem erzählst, was eine Ja/Nein-Frage war. Anstatt direkt zu zitieren wie Are you hungry?, wandelst du es in eine Aussage um, wie
He asked if I was hungry.
Sowohl 'if' als auch 'whether' sind meistens okay für berichtete Ja/Nein-Fragen. 'Whether' kann etwas formeller klingen oder wird benutzt, wenn es eine klare Wahl gibt, wie
She asked whether I wanted coffee or tea.
Das ist eine indirekte Art, jemandem zu erzählen, was eine direkte Frage war, die mit einem Wh-Wort (what, where, why, etc.) begann. Zum Beispiel:
He asked what I wanted
berichtet die direkte Frage
What do you want?
Wir benutzen sie, um eine Frage flüssig in eine Aussage zu integrieren. Das lässt unsere Sprache natürlicher und oft höflicher klingen. Es geht darum, Informationen weiterzugeben, anstatt direkt zu fragen.
Ein berichteter Befehl ist, wenn du jemandem erzählst, was eine andere Person dir gesagt oder dich gebeten hat zu tun, ohne ihre genauen Worte zu verwenden. Zum Beispiel sagst du statt 'He said, Clean your room!' dann:
He told me to clean my room.
Du benutzt im Allgemeinen: Subjekt + Berichtsverb (z.B. 'told', 'asked') + Objekt (wer den Befehl erhalten hat) + to + Grundform des Verbs. Zum Beispiel:
She asked him to open the door.
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Repeating What People Said
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