B1 · Intermedio Capítulo 2

Reporting Questions and Requests

4 Reglas totales
46 ejemplos
5 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

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.

Lo que aprenderás

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.

Guía del capítulo

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.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

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

Mi amigo preguntó si iba a la fiesta esta noche.

Preguntas reportadas de Sí/No: 'Preguntó si...'
2

The interviewer inquired whether I had previous experience in marketing.

El entrevistador preguntó si tenía experiencia previa en marketing.

Preguntas reportadas de Sí/No: 'Preguntó si...'
3

She asked `what I wanted` for dinner.

Ella preguntó qué quería para la cena.

Preguntas reportadas: Usando palabras Wh- (qué, dónde, por qué)
4

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

Él quería saber dónde estaba la cafetería más cercana.

Preguntas reportadas: Usando palabras Wh- (qué, dónde, por qué)
5

My friend told me to send the funny meme.

Mi amigo me dijo que enviara el meme divertido.

Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer
6

The instructor asked us to pair up for the exercise.

El instructor nos pidió que nos emparejáramos para el ejercicio.

Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer
7

She told me not to open the package yet.

Ella me dijo que no abriera el paquete todavía.

Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)
8

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

Él nos pidió que no hiciéramos ruido durante el examen.

Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

¡Domina el Cambio de Tiempos Verbales!

Cuando reportes una pregunta, retrocede un tiempo verbal. El Presente Simple se vuelve Pasado Simple, el Pasado Simple se vuelve Pasado Perfecto, 'will' es 'would' y 'can' es 'could'. ¡Esto hace que suenes súper natural!
She asked if I worked there.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preguntas reportadas de Sí/No: 'Preguntó si...'
💡

Practica el "No Inviertas"

Después de la palabra Wh-, piensa inmediatamente en sujeto-verbo. Dilo mentalmente:
She asked what I wanted,
no what wanted I. Este truco te ayudará a fijar el orden correcto.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preguntas reportadas: Usando palabras Wh- (qué, dónde, por qué)
💡

Elige tu verbo con inteligencia

El verbo que usas para reportar (decir, preguntar, ordenar, aconsejar) marca el tono. 'Asked' suele ser más educado que 'told', mientras que 'ordered' es mucho más fuerte. Escoge el que mejor capture la intención original.
The teacher asked me to do my homework.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer
💡

Elige el Verbo Adecuado

Cada verbo le da un toque diferente a lo que reportas. Usa asked para pedidos amables, warned para advertencias, ordered para órdenes fuertes, y advised para consejos. ¡Así eres más preciso! Por ejemplo:
She warned us not to touch the wet paint.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)

Vocabulario clave (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

Errores comunes

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.
Correcto: 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.
Correcto: 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.
Correcto: 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

Práctica rápida (10)

Elige la forma correcta para completar la pregunta indirecta.

The teacher asked `what the answer ___` .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
Dado que el verbo de reporte asked está en pasado, el verbo en la pregunta indirecta también cambia a pasado (was).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preguntas reportadas: Usando palabras Wh- (qué, dónde, por qué)

¿Qué oración reporta correctamente el mandato negativo?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He advised them not to waste time.
La forma correcta para mandatos negativos indirectos es 'not to' + verbo base. Las opciones que usan 'don't' o 'didn't' son incorrectas.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)

Encuentra y corrige el error en el 'Reported Command'.

Find and fix the mistake:

The teacher told studying harder.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The teacher told us to study harder.
¡Aquí hay dos errores! Necesitas un objeto después de 'told' (¿a quién se le dijo?) y el verbo después de 'to' debe estar en su forma base ('study', no 'studying').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer

¿Qué frase reporta correctamente la orden 'Don't interrupt!'?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked him not to interrupt.
Para los 'Reported Commands' negativos, colocamos 'not' antes de 'to' + la forma base del verbo. 'Not to interrupt' es la estructura correcta. ¡Perfecto!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer

¿Qué pregunta reportada es gramaticalmente correcta?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked if I needed help.
Para preguntas de sí/no reportadas, usamos 'if' o 'whether', no 'that'. Además, el orden de las palabras debe ser sujeto-verbo, no orden de pregunta. 'Did I need help' es una estructura incorrecta para el discurso reportado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preguntas reportadas de Sí/No: 'Preguntó si...'

Elige la forma correcta para completar la pregunta reportada.

My mom asked if I ___ finished my homework.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: had
La pregunta directa Have you finished? usa Presente Perfecto. Cuando se reporta con un verbo reportador en pasado ('asked'), retrocede a Pasado Perfecto, así que 'had finished' es correcto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preguntas reportadas de Sí/No: 'Preguntó si...'

Encuentra y corrige el error en la pregunta reportada.

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.
Las preguntas reportadas requieren orden de afirmación (sujeto + verbo), no orden de pregunta. 'I was' es correcto, no 'was I'. Además, el tiempo verbal retrocede de 'am' (implícito en la pregunta directa) a 'was'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Preguntas reportadas de Sí/No: 'Preguntó si...'

Elige la forma correcta para completar el 'Reported Command'.

My mom told me ___ my room before dinner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to clean
Los 'Reported Commands' usan 'to' + la forma base del verbo después del objeto. 'To clean' es la forma infinitiva correcta aquí. ¡Así de fácil!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Indirectos: Decirle a alguien qué hacer

Elige la forma correcta para completar el mandato indirecto.

The coach warned the players _____ late for practice.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: not to be
En los mandatos negativos indirectos, siempre usamos 'not to' seguido de la forma base del verbo. 'Don't be' y 'didn't be' son incorrectos para el estilo indirecto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)

Encuentra y corrige el error en el mandato indirecto.

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.
La estructura correcta para los mandatos negativos indirectos es 'verbo de reporte + objeto + not to + verbo base'. 'Don't' solo se usa en mandatos directos.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mandatos Negativos Reportados: 'no hacer...' (Estilo Indirecto)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Es cuando le cuentas a alguien qué tipo de pregunta de 'sí/no' se hizo. En lugar de citar directamente como Are you hungry?, la transformas en una afirmación como
He asked if I was hungry.
Ambos, 'if' y 'whether', suelen estar bien para preguntas de 'sí/no' reportadas. 'Whether' puede sonar un poco más formal o se usa cuando hay una elección clara, como
She asked whether I wanted coffee or tea.
Son maneras indirectas de contar lo que fue una pregunta directa que empezaba con una palabra Wh- (what, where, why, etc.). Por ejemplo,
He asked what I wanted
reporta la pregunta directa
What do you want?
Las usamos para integrar una pregunta de forma fluida en una afirmación, haciendo que nuestro discurso suene más natural y a menudo más educado. Se trata de transmitir información, no de preguntar directamente.
Un 'Reported Command' es cuando le cuentas a alguien lo que otra persona te dijo o te pidió hacer, pero sin usar sus palabras exactas. Por ejemplo, en vez de 'He said, Clean your room!', dices:
He told me to clean my room.
Generalmente usas: Sujeto + Verbo de Reporte (como 'told', 'asked') + Objeto (quién recibió la orden) + 'to' + Forma Base del Verbo. Por ejemplo:
She asked him to open the door.
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