Questions indirectes Oui/Non (If/Whether)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Transform direct yes/no questions into statements using 'if' or 'whether' while removing question-word order and auxiliary 'do'.
- Use 'if' or 'whether' to connect the reporting clause to the question. Example: 'He asked if I was ready.'
- Change question word order back to statement order (Subject + Verb). Example: 'Are you...?' becomes '...if I was.'
- Backshift the tense if the reporting verb is in the past. Example: 'Do you like...?' becomes '...if I liked.'
Overview
if (ou son cousin plus élégant whether) fait beaucoup de travail en anglais. Au niveau C1, vous n'apprenez pas seulement à répéter ce que les gens ont dit ; vous apprenez à le faire avec précision, style et le bon niveau de formalité.How This Grammar Works
do, does, is ou have. Lorsque nous passons au discours rapporté, ces auxiliaires disparaissent ou changent souvent. La chose la plus importante à retenir est que l'ordre des mots redevient celui d'une phrase affirmative normale.
Formation Pattern
Asked est la norme, mais wondered ou wanted to know ajoutent plus de nuance.
if ou whether.
Subject + Verb. L'auxiliaire do/does/did disparaît complètement.
Do you like it?| Est-ce que tu l'aimes ?
When To Use It
Common Mistakes
do/does/did.Contrast With Similar Patterns
if du discours rapporté avec le if des phrases conditionnelles. Dans une conditionnelle, if introduit une condition ; dans le discours rapporté, il introduit une incertitude.Quick FAQ
if est-il différent de whether ?R: Dans la plupart des cas, ils sont interchangeables. Whether est plus formel et préférable pour les alternatives « soit l'un, soit l'autre ».
3. Tense Backshift in Reported Questions
| Direct Tense | Direct Example | Reported Tense | Reported Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
Do you stay?
|
Past Simple
|
He asked if I stayed.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
Are you staying?
|
Past Continuous
|
He asked if I was staying.
|
|
Past Simple
|
Did you stay?
|
Past Perfect
|
He asked if I had stayed.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
Have you stayed?
|
Past Perfect
|
He asked if I had stayed.
|
|
Will
|
Will you stay?
|
Would
|
He asked if I would stay.
|
|
Can
|
Can you stay?
|
Could
|
He asked if I could stay.
|
Meanings
The method of reporting a question that has a 'yes' or 'no' answer without using the exact words of the speaker, typically requiring a change in tense and word order.
Standard Reporting
Relaying a simple inquiry from one person to another.
“He asked if I had seen his keys.”
“They wondered whether it would rain during the ceremony.”
Formal Alternatives
Using 'whether' to present two or more distinct possibilities or to maintain a professional tone.
“The board inquired whether the budget was sufficient or if more funds were required.”
“It remains to be seen whether the policy will be effective.”
Infinitive Choice
Using 'whether' (but not 'if') followed by a 'to-infinitive' to express a decision between options.
“I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.”
“She was debating whether to accept the offer.”
Reference Table
| Question directe Oui/Non | Question indirecte Oui/Non | Changements clés |
|---|---|---|
|
"Are you ready?"
|
She asked if I was ready.
|
Décalage du temps, changement d'ordre des mots, 'if' introduit.
|
|
"Did you enjoy the movie?"
|
He wondered whether I had enjoyed the movie.
|
Décalage du temps (passé simple au passé perfect), 'whether' pour une alternative.
|
|
"Can she swim?"
|
They enquired if she could swim.
|
Décalage du verbe modal ('can' à 'could'), ordre des mots d'une affirmation.
|
|
"Have you finished?"
|
I asked if he had finished.
|
Présent perfect au passé perfect.
|
|
"Will you help me?"
|
She asked whether I would help her.
|
Futur simple ('will') au conditionnel ('would').
|
|
"Do you live here?"
|
He asked if I lived there.
|
'Do' supprimé, présent simple au passé simple.
|
|
"Is the cafe open?"
|
We wanted to know if the cafe was open.
|
Présent simple au passé simple.
|
Spectre de formalité
The coordinator inquired whether the delegate would be attending the summit. (Professional vs Casual)
He asked if the delegate was coming to the meeting. (Professional vs Casual)
He asked if they were coming. (Professional vs Casual)
He was like, 'You coming or what?' (Professional vs Casual)
Rapporter les questions Oui/Non
Mots clés
- if Introduit la question rapportée
- whether Alternative à 'if', souvent pour les choix ou la formalité
Changements des verbes
- Décaler le temps Changer le présent au passé, le passé au passé perfect, etc.
- Supprimer les auxiliaires Do, Does, Did sont supprimés
Structure
- Ordre des affirmations Sujet + Verbe (pas verbe + sujet)
- Verbes de déclaration Asked, wondered, enquired, wanted to know
Directe vs. Indirecte Oui/Non
Former les questions indirectes Oui/Non
Est-ce une question Oui/Non ?
Le verbe introducteur est-il au passé ?
Quel est l'ordre des mots maintenant ?
Situations pour les questions indirectes
Cadres formels
- • Entretiens d'embauche sur Zoom
- • Rapports académiques
- • E-mails formels
- • Réunions d'affaires
Conversations décontractées
- • SMS entre amis
- • Discussions au café
- • Chat vocal de jeux
- • Commentaires sur les réseaux sociaux
Transmission d'informations
- • Résumer des discussions
- • Rapporter des messages
- • Expliquer des questions
- • Partager des rumeurs
Éviter la franchise
- • Être poli
- • Adoucir les demandes
- • Exprimer l'incertitude
- • Maintenir une distance
Exemples par niveau
He asked if I was cold.
She asked if you like pizza.
I asked if he is here.
They asked if we have a car.
He asked if I wanted some water.
She wondered if it was raining.
They asked if I could swim.
I asked if she had a brother.
The teacher asked if we had finished the homework.
I asked whether the train was on time.
She wanted to know if I would be at the party.
He asked if I had ever been to France.
The manager inquired whether I was available for an interview.
I asked if they had been waiting long before I arrived.
She asked whether I preferred the red one or the blue one.
They wondered if the project would be completed by Friday.
The committee questioned whether the findings were statistically significant.
I was unsure whether to confront him about the discrepancy.
There was some debate as to whether the new law would actually reduce crime.
She asked if I might have overlooked the most obvious solution.
The philosopher pondered whether existence precedes essence in all cases.
It is highly debatable whether such a radical shift in policy is even feasible.
The witness was asked whether he could definitively swear to the defendant's presence.
One might ask whether the ends truly justify the means in this instance.
Facile à confondre
Learners confuse 'if' as a question linker with 'if' as a conditional marker.
Learners often use 'that' to report questions.
Erreurs courantes
He asked me if am I okay.
He asked me if I was okay.
She asked if you like pizza?
She asked if you liked pizza.
I asked if did he go.
I asked if he went.
They asked if I have seen it.
They asked if I had seen it.
We discussed if we should go.
We discussed whether we should go.
Structures de phrases
I was wondering if ___.
It depends on whether ___ or not.
Real World Usage
They asked whether I had experience with Python.
She asked if I'm coming tonight.
I inquired whether the item was still in stock.
We examined whether the results were consistent.
The judge asked if the witness was telling the truth.
I asked if breakfast was included.
Entraîne-toi au "Backshifting"
Attention à l'ordre des mots !
subject + verb). Une erreur fréquente est de garder l'ordre des mots de la question, comme dans 'She asked if was he coming?' – évite ça à tout prix ! "After if or whether, the reported question MUST revert to statement word order (subject + verb). A common trap is keeping the question word order, like 'She asked if was he coming?' – avoid this at all costs!"Nuance entre 'If' et 'Whether'
Politesse en anglais
Laisse tomber 'Do/Does/Did'
Smart Tips
Try adding 'or not' at the end. If it sounds natural, 'whether' is usually the better choice.
Always check your pronouns. 'Are you coming?' asked by John to me becomes 'if I was coming'.
Prononciation
Falling Intonation
Unlike direct questions which often rise at the end, reported questions have falling intonation because they are grammatically statements.
Statement Fall
She asked if I liked it. ↘
Conveys that this is a piece of reported information, not a direct question.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember 'I.F.' — Indirect Form. If it's indirect, the 'If' comes first, and the 'Form' is a statement.
Association visuelle
Imagine a bridge made of the words 'IF' and 'WHETHER' connecting two islands. On the first island, people are shouting questions with 'Do' and 'Are'. As they cross the bridge, they drop their 'Do' signs and stand in a straight line (statement order) on the second island.
Rhyme
When 'do' and 'does' are in the way, throw them out and 'if' will stay!
Story
A detective is interviewing a witness. The witness says 'Did you see him?' The detective writes in his notebook: 'He asked if I had seen him.' The detective always turns questions into facts for his report.
Word Web
Défi
Think of three questions you were asked today. Write them down as reported questions using 'if' or 'whether'.
Notes culturelles
British speakers are slightly more likely to use 'whether' in semi-formal situations compared to American speakers, who favor 'if' more broadly.
In global academic English, 'whether' is used to maintain an objective, detached tone, avoiding the conditional 'if' which can sometimes imply a 'supposition' rather than a 'question'.
The word 'whether' comes from the Old English 'hwæther', which specifically meant 'which of two'.
Amorces de conversation
Has anyone ever asked you if you wanted to move to another country?
Can you tell me whether you prefer working in the morning or at night?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
My friend wanted to know ___ I had finished the report.
Find and fix the mistake:
She asked if was he coming to the meeting.
Translate into English: 'Ella me preguntó si yo había visto su teléfono.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesHe asked me...
Find and fix the mistake:
She asked if did I see the keys.
We discussed ___ to buy a new car.
He wondered...
1. 'Is he here?' 2. 'Does he stay?' 3. 'Can he go?'
I asked him if or not he was coming.
A: 'Did you finish?' B: 'What did he ask?' C: 'He asked...'
asked, wondered, said, inquired
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesThe interviewer ___ whether I had previous experience.
My colleague wondered if he could to help me.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El jefe preguntó si el informe estaba listo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct questions with their reported forms:
I wasn't sure if she ___ (know) the answer.
He asked whether do you need any help.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella se preguntaba si el paquete llegaría a tiempo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
In most cases, they are interchangeable. However, `whether` is more formal and is required after prepositions and before infinitives.
If the reporting verb is in the past, backshifting is standard. However, if the situation is still true (e.g., 'He asked if I live in London'), you can sometimes keep the present tense.
No, 'if or not' is generally considered incorrect. Use `whether or not` or just `if` by itself.
Because those are question auxiliaries used for inversion. Since reported questions are statements, they don't need question auxiliaries.
No. 'Asked that' is used for requests (subjunctive), not for reporting questions. Use `asked if`.
Only if the main clause is a question, e.g., 'Can you tell me if he's coming?' If the main clause is a statement, use a period.
You can use `wonder`, `inquire`, `want to know`, `query`, or `question`.
Historically yes, but now it's used for any yes/no question, even if only one option is mentioned.
Scaffolded Practice
1
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
si
English requires a shift to statement word order; Spanish is more flexible.
ob
German verb placement rules are even stricter than English.
si
French 'si' elides to 's' before 'il' (s'il), whereas English 'if' never changes.
〜かどうか (~ka dou ka)
The marker comes at the end of the clause in Japanese, but at the beginning in English.
ما إذا (ma idha)
Arabic often maintains the question particle within the indirect structure.
是否 (shìfǒu)
Chinese has no tense backshifting, which is a major hurdle for learners.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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REPORTED SPEECH | INDIRECT SPEECH | DIRECT SPEECH - statements, questions, commands
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