B1 · 中級 チャプター 2

Reporting Questions and Requests

4 トータルルール
46 例文
5 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

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.

学べること

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.

チャプターガイド

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.

重要な例文 (8)

1

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

友達が今夜パーティーに行くか尋ねてきました。

間接疑問文（はい/いいえ）:「〜かどうか尋ねた」
2

The interviewer inquired whether I had previous experience in marketing.

面接官は私が以前マーケティングの経験があるか尋ねました。

間接疑問文（はい/いいえ）:「〜かどうか尋ねた」
3

She asked `what I wanted` for dinner.

彼女は夕食に何が欲しいか尋ねた。

間接疑問文：Wh-疑問詞（何、どこ、なぜ）を使う
4

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

彼は一番近いコーヒーショップがどこにあるか知りたがった。

間接疑問文：Wh-疑問詞（何、どこ、なぜ）を使う
5

My friend told me to send the funny meme.

友達が私に面白いミームを送るように言いました。

間接話法による命令：誰かに何をすべきかを伝える
6

The instructor asked us to pair up for the exercise.

インストラクターは私たちにペアになるように言いました。

間接話法による命令：誰かに何をすべきかを伝える
7

She told me not to open the package yet.

彼女はまだその荷物を開けないように私に言いました。

間接否定命令文: ～しないように (間接話法)
8

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

彼は試験中に物音を立てないように私たちに頼みました。

間接否定命令文: ～しないように (間接話法)

ヒントとコツ (4)

💡

時制のバックシフトをマスターしよう

会話を報告するときは、動詞の時制を一つ過去に戻すことを忘れないでくださいね。現在形は過去形に、過去形は過去完了形に、「will」は「would」に、「can」は「could」になります。これは自然に聞こえるためにとても重要ですよ。
I asked if he could help.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接疑問文（はい/いいえ）:「〜かどうか尋ねた」
💡

「倒置しない」練習をしよう！

Wh-語の後は、すぐに「主語＋動詞」と頭の中で組み立てる練習をしてみてね。例えば、「彼女は 'what I wanted' と尋ねた」と心の中で唱えると、正しい語順が身につきやすくなります。
She asked what I wanted.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接疑問文：Wh-疑問詞（何、どこ、なぜ）を使う
💡

動詞選びがカギ！

上司が同僚に「あの資料を今日中に提出して」と頼んだことを、あなたはどう伝えますか？「told」と「asked」では印象が変わりますよね。「He asked me to finish the report by today.」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接話法による命令：誰かに何をすべきかを伝える
💡

適切な動詞を選ぼう！

伝える動詞（reporting verb）によってニュアンスが変わります。丁寧なお願いなら asked、警告なら warned、厳しく命令するなら ordered、おすすめなら advised を使うと、より正確な伝言になりますよ！「He asked me not to be late.」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接否定命令文: ～しないように (間接話法)

重要な語彙 (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

よくある間違い

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.
正解: 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.
正解: 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.
正解: 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

クイック練習 (10)

報告命令文の間違いを見つけて訂正しましょう。

Find and fix the mistake:

The teacher told studying harder.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The teacher told us to study harder.
ここには2つの間違いがあります！「told」の後には目的語が必要です（誰に言ったの？）。そして、「to」の後の動詞は原形である必要があります（「study」であって「studying」ではない）。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接話法による命令：誰かに何をすべきかを伝える

報告命令文を完成させるための正しい形を選びましょう。

My mom told me ___ my room before dinner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to clean
報告命令文では、目的語の後に「to」+動詞の原形が続きます。「to clean」が正しい不定詞の形です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接話法による命令：誰かに何をすべきかを伝える

伝言の文章の間違いを見つけて修正しましょう。

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.
否定の間接命令の正しい構造は「伝える動詞 + 目的語 + not to + 動詞の原形」です。「Don't」は直接命令にのみ使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接否定命令文: ～しないように (間接話法)

報告された疑問文を完成させるために、正しい形を選んでください。

The teacher asked `what the answer ___` .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
報告動詞の「asked」が過去形なので、報告される疑問文の中の動詞も過去形（was）に変わります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接疑問文：Wh-疑問詞（何、どこ、なぜ）を使う

報告された疑問文の間違いを見つけて修正してください。

Find and fix the mistake:

He wondered why was she late?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He wondered why she was late.
間接疑問文では、Wh-語の後の語順は主語＋動詞（「普通の文」の語順）であるべきで、直接疑問文のように倒置されてはいけません。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接疑問文：Wh-疑問詞（何、どこ、なぜ）を使う

文法的に正しい報告された質問を選びましょう。

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked if I needed help.
「はい/いいえ」の質問を報告するときは、「that」ではなく「if」か「whether」を使います。また、語順は質問の語順ではなく、主語-動詞の順でなければなりません。「Did I need help」は報告話法としては間違った構造です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接疑問文（はい/いいえ）:「〜かどうか尋ねた」

間接命令を完成させる正しい形を選びましょう。

The coach warned the players _____ late for practice.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: not to be
否定の間接命令では、常に「not to」の後に動詞の原形を使います。「Don't be」や「didn't be」は間接話法では間違いです。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接否定命令文: ～しないように (間接話法)

「邪魔するな！」という命令を正しく報告している文を選びましょう。

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked him not to interrupt.
否定の報告命令文では、「not」を「to」+動詞の原形の前に置きます。「Not to interrupt」が正しい構造です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接話法による命令：誰かに何をすべきかを伝える

報告された質問を完成させる正しい形を選びましょう。

My mom asked if I ___ finished my homework.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: had
直接質問「Have you finished?」は現在完了形です。「asked」という過去の報告動詞で報告される場合、過去完了形にバックシフトするので、「had finished」が正しいです。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接疑問文（はい/いいえ）:「〜かどうか尋ねた」

正しく間接命令を伝えている文を選びましょう。

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He advised them not to waste time.
否定の間接命令の正しい形は「not to」+ 動詞の原形です。「don't」や「didn't」を使っている選択肢は間違いです。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 間接否定命令文: ～しないように (間接話法)

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

これは、誰かが尋ねた「はい/いいえ」の質問を他の人に伝えるときに使います。例えば、「Are you hungry?」と直接引用するのではなく、「He asked if I was hungry.」のように文に変えて報告する表現です。
「if」と「whether」はどちらも「はい/いいえ」の質問を報告するときに使えますよ。「whether」の方が少しフォーマルな響きがあったり、「She asked whether I wanted coffee or tea.」のように明確な選択肢がある場合に使われることが多いです。
それは、Wh-語（what, where, whyなど）で始まる直接疑問文を、誰かに伝えるための間接的な方法です。例えば、「彼は 'what I wanted' と尋ねた」は、「What do you want?」という直接疑問文を報告しています。
質問を文の中にスムーズに組み込むことで、より自然で、しばしばより丁寧な話し方になります。直接質問するよりも、情報を伝えることに重点を置いているんです。
誰かがあなたに「こうしてほしい」と言ったことを、その人の言葉を直接使わずに伝える方法だよ。例えば、「彼は「部屋を掃除しろ！」と言った」じゃなくて、「He told me to clean my room.」のように言うんだ。
基本は「主語 + 報告動詞（told, askedなど） + 目的語（誰に言ったか） + to + 動詞の原形」だよ。例えば、「She asked him to open the door.」みたいにね。
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