Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Turn direct yes/no questions into reports by using 'asked if' and changing the word order to a normal statement.
- Use 'if' or 'whether' to connect the reporting verb to the question: 'He asked if...'
- Change the question word order back to statement order (Subject + Verb): 'if I was' not 'if was I'.
- Remove auxiliary verbs like 'do', 'does', or 'did' from the original question: 'if I liked' not 'if did I like'.
Overview
asked if... という形は、日常会話からビジネスシーンまで、極めて重要な役割を果たします。Are you joining the meeting?）ではなく、自分の文章の中にその質問を組み込む必要があります。これが
He asked if I was joining the meeting. という形です。Are you hungry? のように、動詞が主語の前に来る「疑問文の語順」を使います。しかし、これを asked if... で報告する場合、if 以降は「〜かどうかということ」という意味の「名詞節（Noun Clause）」になります。名詞節の中では、語順は必ず 主語 + 動詞 の形に戻ります。ここが日本人学習者が最も間違いやすいポイントの一つです。- 「（あなたは）お腹が空いていますか？」 → 「彼はお腹が空いているか（どうか）聞いた」
if や whether は、まさにこの日本語の「〜か（どうか）」に相当する接着剤の役割を果たします。日本語では文末に「か」が来ますが、英語では節の先頭に if を置くという「語順の逆転」が起こることを意識しましょう。Reported Yes/No Questions を作る際の基本フォーマットは以下の通りです：asked ですが、文脈によって使い分けます。ask: 最も一般的。「尋ねる」wonder: 「〜かなと思う」「疑問に思う」（自問自答に近いニュアンス）want to know: 「知りたがっている」（より強い関心）inquire: 「問い合わせる」（フォーマルな場面、役所や会社への問い合わせなど）
if と whether の使い分けif: 日常会話で最もよく使われます。whether:ifよりも少しフォーマルです。また、whether ... or notのように選択肢を強調する場合や、前置詞の直後に置く場合に好まれます。
Do you like sushi?→ She asked if I liked sushi. |
Are you working?→ He asked if I was working. |
Did you see it?→ They asked if I had seen it. |
Will you help?→ I asked if he would help. |
Can you swim?→ She asked if I could swim. |
here→therenow→then/at that timetomorrow→the next day/the following dayyesterday→the day before/the previous day
- Direct:
Did the client sign the contract?
- Reported:
My manager asked if the client had signed the contract.
- Direct:
Can you start from next month?
- Reported:
The interviewer asked if I could start from the following month.
- Direct:
Are you coming to the Izakaya tonight?
- Reported:
Ken asked if I was coming to the Izakaya that night.
- Direct:
Is the item still in stock?
- Reported:
I inquired whether the item was still in stock.
if の後は「質問」ではなく「事実の記述（平叙文）」になるため、語順を戻さなければなりません。- ❌ Incorrect:
He asked if was I tired. - ✅ Correct:
He asked if I was tired. - 解説: 日本語では「疲れているか聞いた」と言いますが、英語では
ifを置いた時点で「疑問」の役割はifが担っているため、後ろはI was tiredと普通の文にする必要があります。
do / does / did を残してしまうDo you... や Did you... の do/did は、疑問文を作るための「道具」です。間接話法では疑問文ではなくなるため、この道具は不要になります。- ❌ Incorrect:
She asked if did I like the gift. - ✅ Correct:
She asked if I liked the gift. - 解説:
didを消す代わりに、動詞likeを過去形のlikedにすること（時制の一致）を忘れないようにしましょう。
if 以外で訳そうとするwhat や how と混同してしまうことがあります。- ❌ Incorrect:
He asked me what I was busy.(彼は私が忙しいか聞いた) - ✅ Correct:
He asked me if I was busy. - 解説: Yes/No で答えられる質問の報告には、必ず
ifまたはwhetherを使います。内容を問うwhatなどは使いません。
if を使うもの以外にもいくつかのパターンがあります。混乱を避けるために整理しておきましょう。Are you OK? | He asked if I was OK. | if / whether を使う |Where are you?| He asked where I was. | 疑問詞をそのまま使い、語順を戻す |
I am OK. | He said that he was OK. | that を使う（省略可） |Stay here. | He told me to stay there. | to + 不定詞 を使う |if (〜かどうか) と if (もし〜なら)if との区別です。- 条件:
I will go if it is sunny.(もし晴れたら行きます) - 間接疑問:
I don't know if it will be sunny.(晴れるかどうか分かりません)
if は、know, ask, wonder などの「不確実なこと」を表す動詞の後ろに来るのが特徴です。if と whether は完全に同じ意味ですか？whether の方が少し硬い響きがあり、ビジネス文書やレポートに向いています。また、whether or not という形は非常によく使われますが、if ... or not はあまり一般的ではありません。さらに、I'm thinking about whether... のように前置詞（aboutなど）の後には whether しか使えません。He asked if Paris is the capital of France. などです。しかし、試験やフォーマルな場では、ルール通りに過去形にずらすのが最も安全で一般的です。asked 以外の動詞で if を使うことはありますか？I wonder if...（〜かなあと思う）や I want to know if...（〜かどうか知りたい）は日常会話で頻出します。これらは厳密には「誰かの発言の報告」ではありませんが、文法構造（if + 主語 + 動詞）は全く同じです。? をつけてしまいそうです。. になります。心の中で「〜ということを彼は尋ねた」と、肯定文として処理する癖をつけると良いでしょう。asked if... の形をスムーズに使えるようになると、英語での「説明力」が格段に上がります。最初は「語順を戻す」「時制をずらす」という2つの作業を同時に行うのが大変に感じるかもしれません。まずは、身近な人があなたに投げかけた質問を、心の中で He/She asked if I... と言い換える練習から始めてみてください。例えば、コンビニの店員さんに「袋はご利用ですか？」と聞かれたら、心の中で The clerk asked if I needed a plastic bag. と変換してみるのです。こうした日常の小さな積み重ねが、自然な英語のアウトプットにつながります。頑張りましょう（頑張ってください）！3. Tense Backshifting in Reported Questions
| Direct Question Tense | Direct Example | Reported Tense | Reported Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
Do you smoke?
|
Past Simple
|
He asked if I smoked.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
Are you leaving?
|
Past Continuous
|
He asked if I was leaving.
|
|
Past Simple
|
Did you call?
|
Past Perfect
|
He asked if I had called.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
Have you eaten?
|
Past Perfect
|
He asked if I had eaten.
|
|
Will
|
Will you help?
|
Would
|
He asked if I would help.
|
|
Can
|
Can you come?
|
Could
|
He asked if I could come.
|
Meanings
This structure is used to tell someone else what a person asked in a question that can be answered with 'yes' or 'no'. It transforms a direct inquiry into a narrative statement.
Reporting a simple inquiry
Relaying a basic question about a fact or preference.
“He asked if the train was on time.”
“They asked if we lived nearby.”
Formal investigation or choice
Using 'whether' instead of 'if' to report a question involving a choice or a formal context.
“The manager asked whether I preferred the morning or evening shift.”
“The police asked whether the witness had been present at the scene.”
Reporting a polite request
Reporting a question that was originally a polite 'Can you...?' or 'Could you...?'
“The waiter asked if we were ready to order.”
“My boss asked if I could stay late tonight.”
Reference Table
| 直接質問の種類 | 直接質問の例 | 報告された質問のパターン | 報告された質問の例 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
"Do you work here?"
|
asked if + Past Simple
|
She asked if I worked there.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
"Are you coming?"
|
asked if + Past Continuous
|
He asked if I was coming.
|
|
Past Simple
|
"Did they call?"
|
asked if + Past Perfect
|
They asked if they had called.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
"Have you finished?"
|
asked if + Past Perfect
|
She wondered if I had finished.
|
|
Future Simple (will)
|
"Will it rain?"
|
asked if + would
|
He asked if it would rain.
|
|
Modal (can)
|
"Can you help?"
|
asked if + could
|
I asked if he could help.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
The chairperson inquired whether the director would be attending the board meeting. (Workplace)
He asked if the director was coming to the meeting. (Workplace)
He asked if the boss was gonna show up. (Workplace)
He was like, 'Is the big man coming or what?' (Workplace)
間接疑問文（はい/いいえ）の概念図
主要要素
- 報告動詞 例: asked, wondered, inquired
- 接続詞 if / whether
- 節 文の語順（Subject + Verb）
- 時制のバックシフト 動詞の時制が過去に戻る
直接質問の例
- 現在形 "Do you like it?"
- 過去形 "Did she call?"
- 現在完了形 "Have they arrived?"
- 未来形 "Will you go?"
報告された形の例
- Liked He asked if I liked it.
- Had called She wondered if she had called.
- Had arrived They asked if they had arrived.
- Would go I asked if he would go.
直接質問と報告されたはい/いいえ質問の比較
はい/いいえ質問の報告手順
はい/いいえ質問ですか？
報告動詞は過去形ですか（例: asked）？
報告された節は質問の語順になっていますか？
最後に疑問符がありますか？
時制変換グリッド
直接時制
- • Present Simple
- • Present Continuous
- • Past Simple
- • Present Perfect
- • Will
- • Can
報告時制
- • Past Simple
- • Past Continuous
- • Past Perfect
- • Past Perfect
- • Would
- • Could
レベル別の例文
He asked if I am happy.
She asked if you like milk.
They asked if we are cold.
I asked if he is a doctor.
He asked if I liked the movie.
She asked if I could help her.
They asked if I was busy.
I asked if she had a car.
The teacher asked if we had finished the homework.
He asked whether I was coming to the party or not.
She asked if I had ever been to Italy.
I asked if the flight had been delayed.
The interviewer asked if I would be willing to relocate.
She inquired whether the results had been finalized yet.
They asked if I had been following the news lately.
I asked if the warranty covered water damage.
The board asked whether the proposed budget was sustainable in the long term.
He questioned if the data truly supported the researcher's hypothesis.
She asked whether to proceed with the litigation or seek a settlement.
I asked if there were any underlying conditions I should be aware of.
The diplomat inquired whether the treaty's provisions were congruent with international law.
They asked if the aesthetic choices were intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
He asked whether the inherent risks outweighed the potential societal benefits.
The auditor asked if the discrepancies had been reconciled prior to the fiscal year-end.
間違えやすい
Learners often try to use 'if' with Wh- words, like 'He asked if where I was'.
Both use 'if', but conditionals describe a result of a condition, while reported questions describe an inquiry.
Mixing reported speech with quotation marks.
よくある間違い
He asked if am I happy.
He asked if I was happy.
She asked if you like pizza?
She asked if you liked pizza.
I asked if he is a doctor.
I asked if he was a doctor.
He asked if do you smoke.
He asked if you smoked.
He asked if I have seen it.
He asked if I had seen it.
She asked if could I help.
She asked if I could help.
They asked if I will come.
They asked if I would come.
He asked if I liked it or no.
He asked if I liked it or not.
She asked me if I had went there.
She asked me if I had gone there.
I asked if whether he was ready.
I asked whether he was ready.
The client inquired if or not we were ready.
The client inquired whether or not we were ready.
He asked if I would have liked to join.
He asked if I would like to join.
文型パターン
He asked if I ___ (past verb).
She wanted to know whether I had ___ (past participle).
They asked if I could ___ (base verb).
I inquired whether ___ (subject) was ___ (verb-ing).
Real World Usage
The recruiter asked if I was willing to travel for work.
Sarah asked if we're still meeting at 8.
The doctor asked if I had been taking my medicine.
I asked if the store was open on Sundays.
The officer asked whether I had seen the accident.
They asked if I had any liquids in my bag.
時制のバックシフトをマスターしよう
I asked if he could help.
語順に注意！
He asked if she was going.
IfとWhetherの使い分け
She asked whether I wanted coffee or tea.
報告するときの丁寧さ
He asked if I would be available.
代名詞のパワーアップ
He asked if I was coming there the next day.
Smart Tips
Imagine the 'do' or 'did' is a ghost—it must disappear in the reported version!
Use 'whether' instead of 'if' to sound more professional and precise.
Always change 'will' to 'would'. It sounds much more natural in the past context.
Say the 'if' part as a normal sentence first, then add 'He asked' to the front.
発音
Falling Intonation
Unlike direct yes/no questions which have a rising intonation at the end, reported questions are statements and should have a falling intonation at the end.
Statement Fall
She asked if I liked it. (Final word 'it' goes down in pitch)
Indicates the sentence is a report/statement, not a question.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Remember 'S-V-O': Subject, then Verb, then Object. In reported questions, the 'Question' becomes a 'Statement'.
視覚的連想
Imagine a bridge labeled 'IF' connecting a person speaking to a storybook. The words on the bridge lose their question marks and stand in a straight line (Subject-Verb).
Rhyme
When reporting a 'yes' or 'no', use 'if' to make the sentence flow. Drop the 'do' and flip the order, cross the reported speech border.
Story
A spy is reporting back to headquarters. He can't ask questions directly; he must report what the enemy asked. He says, 'The general asked if the plans were ready.' He uses 'if' to keep the report secret and steady.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Go to a news website, find an interview, and rewrite three yes/no questions from the interviewer as reported speech in your journal.
文化メモ
In the UK, 'whether' is used more frequently in neutral speech than in the US, where it often sounds quite formal.
Americans heavily favor 'if' for almost all reported yes/no questions in spoken conversation.
Similar to British English, but often uses 'reckon' in the reporting clause informally: 'He was asking if you reckon it'll rain.'
The use of 'if' as an interrogative subordinator dates back to Old English 'gif', which primarily meant 'on the condition that'.
会話のきっかけ
Tell me about your last job interview. What did they ask you?
When you were a child, what did your parents always ask you when you came home from school?
Think about a time you were lost. What did you ask the locals?
Imagine you are a journalist. What would you ask a famous celebrity?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
My mom asked if I ___ finished my homework.
Find and fix the mistake:
He asked if was I ready for the presentation.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Él preguntó si podías venir a la fiesta.'
Answer starts with: ["H...
Score: /4
練習問題
8 exercisesDirect: 'Are you tired?'
Direct: 'Do you like coffee?' -> He asked if I ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
She asked if could I help her.
Direct: 'Have you finished?'
1. 'Is it raining?' 2. 'Will it rain?'
In reported yes/no questions, we keep the question mark at the end of the sentence.
A: What did the doctor say? B: He asked ___ any allergies.
asked / if / she / was / the / open / shop
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesI wondered if they ___ still waiting for the bus.
She asked if I am going to the cinema.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'La profesora preguntó si habíamos entregado la tarea.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct question with its reported form:
The doctor asked if I ___ any allergies.
My colleague wondered whether will she present her ideas.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella quería saber si ibas a unirte al equipo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct question with its reported form:
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
In most cases, they are interchangeable. However, `whether` is more formal and is preferred when there are two specific alternatives (e.g., 'whether you stay or go').
Not always. If the information is still true right now, you can keep the present tense (e.g., 'He asked if I like pizza' is okay if I still like it), but backshifting is always safer and more common in exams.
No. `That` is used for reporting statements, not questions. For questions, you must use `if`, `whether`, or a Wh- word.
Because those words are only used to form questions or negatives in the present/past simple. Since the reported clause is a statement, we don't need them.
Yes! You can use `wondered`, `wanted to know`, or `inquired`. They all follow the same rules.
No, you do not need a comma to separate the reporting verb from the 'if' clause.
`Can` becomes `could` and `may` becomes `might`. For example: 'He asked if he might come in.'
Both are used. `If I was` is common in speech, but `if I were` is more formal (the subjunctive mood).
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
si
English requires a tense backshift more strictly than Spanish.
si
French 'si' cannot be followed by the future tense in this context, whereas English 'if' can (though 'would' is more common).
ob
Word order: English is S-V-O, German is Subj-O-V.
~ka dou ka
Japanese is head-final; the 'if' equivalent comes at the end of the question clause.
ma idha / hal
Arabic does not use tense backshifting in the same way English does.
shifou / A-not-A
Chinese uses verb-repetition or specific particles instead of a conditional-style 'if'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
関連動画
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