Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Switch from question order to statement order and drop 'do/does/did' when reporting Wh-questions.
- Use statement word order: Subject + Verb, not Verb + Subject. Example: 'where he was' not 'where was he'.
- Remove auxiliary 'do', 'does', or 'did'. Example: 'why she left' not 'why did she leave'.
- Shift tenses backward (Backshift) if the reporting verb is in the past. Example: 'is' becomes 'was'.
Overview
You can tell people what someone else asked. Use words like who, what, and why. This shows you know English well.
Use these rules to be polite and clear. They help you tell stories and talk at work.
It shows you can change sentences to speak better.
You are not asking a question now. You are telling about an old question. Change the sentence to be clear.
How This Grammar Works
“What do you want?” becomes She asked what I wanted, where do disappears, and I wanted adheres to statement order.Direct: “Where are they going?”Reported: He asked where they were going.Direct: “When did you arrive?”Reported: She inquired when I had arrived.
Formation Pattern
inquire | Formal | Suggests an official or investigative query | “How were the funds allocated?” | The committee inquired how the funds had been allocated. |
demand to know | Strong | Implies insistence or urgency, often confrontational | “Who is responsible for this?” | He demanded to know who was responsible for the error. |
Direct: “What do you need from the store?”
Reported: She asked what I needed from the store.
Direct: “What do you think about the proposal?”
Reported: She asked what I thought about the proposal. (do is omitted, think becomes thought)
“Where do you live?” | He asked where I lived. |
“Why have you changed your mind?” | They asked why I had changed my mind. |
“When did he arrive?” | She asked when he had arrived. |
“Where can I find the report?” | She wanted to know where she could find the report. |
“When may I call you?” | He asked when he might call me. |
I | he/she/it | “Why am I here?” | He asked why he was there. |
you | I/we/he/she/they (context-dep.) | “What are you doing?” | She asked what I was doing. |
my | his/her/its | “Whose car is my car?” | He asked whose car his car was. |
here | there | “Where did you leave it here?” | She asked where I had left it there. |
now | then, at that moment | “What are you reading now?” | He asked what I was reading then. |
today | that day | “Why are you busy today?” | She asked why he was busy that day. |
yesterday | the day before, the previous day| “When did you arrive yesterday?” | He asked when I had arrived the day before. |
tomorrow | the next day, the following day| “What are you doing tomorrow?” | She asked what I was doing the next day. |
When To Use It
- Politeness and Formality: Using reported questions is inherently more polite and less direct than a direct question. This is crucial in professional settings, formal writing, or when you wish to show deference. Instead of barking
“Where is the report?”, you might politely say,“I wondered where the report was.”This softens the inquiry and avoids putting the other person on the spot.
- Summarizing Conversations or Meetings: When recounting events, you frequently need to condense dialogue. Reported questions allow you to efficiently convey the substance of a query without recreating the entire interaction. For example,
“The client asked when we expected to complete the project, and I explained the current timeline.”This summarization is vital for clarity and conciseness in reports or emails.
- Reporting Information/Gossiping: In informal contexts, reported questions are often used to share information or discuss what others have said.
“Did you hear what Sarah asked about the new policy?”This allows you to recount an inquiry that might be interesting or relevant to your listener, integrating it into a narrative flow.
- Indirect Information Gathering: Sometimes, you might ask someone to relay a question to a third party.
“Could you ask him why he changed his mind about the meeting?”Here, you're not asking directly but requesting an intermediary to make the inquiry. This is common when dealing with hierarchical structures or when someone is unavailable.
- Maintaining Narrative Flow in Storytelling: In fiction or personal anecdotes, reported speech keeps the story moving without interrupting the flow with direct quotations.
“She recounted how the police had asked her what she had witnessed during the incident.”This seamlessly integrates dialogue into the descriptive prose, enhancing readability.
- Avoiding Repetition: If you've already heard a question, or if you don't need to repeat the exact words, reported questions are ideal.
“He wanted to know what I was doing next weekend, but I told him I already had plans.”This avoids the awkwardness of repeating a query directly.
- Academic or Journalistic Reporting: In formal contexts, reported questions maintain objectivity and distance. Journalists frequently use reported speech to attribute questions to sources without directly quoting them.
“The reporter asked the spokesperson why the decision was made so abruptly.”This provides factual reporting while maintaining a professional tone.
Common Mistakes
- Maintaining Question Word Order: This is arguably the most pervasive error. Learners frequently retain the inverted auxiliary-subject order from the direct question. Remember: the reported clause is always a statement.
Incorrect: “He asked what was I doing.” Correct: “He asked what I was doing.”This is a fundamental change from interrogation to declaration.
- Forgetting or Incorrectly Applying Tense Backshift: While backshift has exceptions, omitting it when necessary or applying it incorrectly is common.
Direct: “Where is she?” Incorrect: “He asked where she is.” (if reporting a past event). Correct: “He asked where she was.”Always consider the time relationship between the reporting verb and the original question.
- Including Auxiliary
do/does/did: These auxiliaries are purely grammatical markers for direct questions and have no place in reported speech.Direct: “What did you say?” Incorrect: “She wondered what did I say.” Correct: “She wondered what I had said.”The tense information ofdid(past simple) is transferred to the main verb, which then backshifts.
- Using
thatafter the Question Word: In reported statements,thatis often used (He said that he was busy). However, question words (who,what,why, etc.) already function as subordinating conjunctions in reported questions.Incorrect: “She asked what that I wanted.” Correct: “She asked what I wanted.”Using both is redundant and ungrammatical.
- Incorrect Pronoun and Adverbial Changes: Failing to adjust pronouns (
Itohe/she) or adverbials (heretothere,tomorrowtothe next day) can lead to confusing and illogical sentences.Direct: “When will you be here tomorrow?” Incorrect: “He asked when will I be here tomorrow.” Correct: “He asked when I would be there the next day.”This requires careful contextual awareness.
- Confusing Reported Questions with Reported Yes/No Questions: Sometimes learners use
iforwhetherin conjunction with a question word.Incorrect: “He asked if what I wanted.” Correct: “He asked what I wanted.”The question word itself is the connector for specific information questions;if/whetherare only for yes/no questions.
- Over-backshifting with Modals: While
canbecomescouldandmaybecomesmight, modals likewould,should,could,might,ought to, andhad bettergenerally do not backshift further.Direct: “How would you solve this?” Incorrect: “She asked how I would have solved that.” Correct: “She asked how I would solve that.”(Unless a conditional in the direct speech changes to a different conditional type).
Real Conversations
Understanding how reported questions appear in authentic, modern English is vital. They are not confined to formal essays but are integral to everyday communication, ranging from casual texts to professional emails. The context often dictates the level of backshift and formality.
Example 1 (Casual Text Exchange):
- Liam (text): Hey, what time are you free tomorrow?
- Chloe (telling a friend): Liam just texted, he wanted to know what time I was free tomorrow. I told him after 3.
- Observation: wanted to know is used for a neutral inquiry. was free is the backshifted tense, and tomorrow remains unchanged due to the immediate context and future relevance.
Example 2 (Work Email):
- Subject: Follow-up from Meeting
- Body: Hi Team, Just a quick summary from our call. Sarah inquired why the Q3 figures showed a dip, and John explained the market fluctuations. Mark also asked who would be responsible for the follow-up actions, and I confirmed that Emily would take the lead on the report.
- Observation: inquired why and asked who are professional. The past tense of showed and would be responsible demonstrate appropriate backshift, maintaining a formal report style.
Example 3 (Social Media Comment Section):
- Post: Just watched that new sci-fi movie. So many questions!
- Comment 1: Same! I kept wondering why they didn't just use their powers earlier.
- Comment 2: Exactly! And my friend was like, who designed those terrible alien costumes, lol.
- Observation: kept wondering why shows continuous thought. was like is a very informal reporting verb in modern English, indicating the exact words were less important than the general gist. No backshift on designed because it's reported colloquially as a direct statement about a past, unchanging fact, but designed could also be had designed here for strict grammar.
Example 4 (News Report Excerpt):
- During the press conference, a journalist asked the mayor what measures the city would implement to address the housing crisis. The mayor responded by outlining several long-term initiatives.
- Observation: asked the mayor what measures the city would implement is classic formal reported speech, using would for future-in-the-past and maintaining objective reporting.
These examples illustrate that while the core rules of backshift and word order are critical, native speakers adapt the reported form based on context, formality, and immediate relevance. The choice to backshift or not can subtly convey whether the reported information is still considered current or an immediate concern.
Quick FAQ
- Do I always have to backshift the tense?
- Can I use
thatafter the question word?
- What's the difference between
askandinquire?
“The professor inquired why my submission was late,” sounds more formal than “The professor asked why my submission was late.”- Why do
do,does, anddiddisappear?
- What if the original question was about the subject, e.g.,
“Who called?”?
- Is
wonderedmore polite thanasked?
- What about
whose? How does that work?
3. Tense Backshift in Reported Wh-Questions
| Direct Question Tense | Direct Example | Reported Tense | Reported Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
Where is he?
|
Past Simple
|
She asked where he was.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
What are you doing?
|
Past Continuous
|
He asked what I was doing.
|
|
Past Simple
|
Why did they leave?
|
Past Perfect
|
I asked why they had left.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
Who has seen it?
|
Past Perfect
|
She asked who had seen it.
|
|
Future (will)
|
When will it end?
|
Conditional (would)
|
They asked when it would end.
|
|
Can
|
How can I help?
|
Could
|
He asked how he could help.
|
Meanings
The process of conveying a question asked by someone else without quoting them directly, requiring changes in word order, pronouns, and tenses.
Standard Reporting
Relaying a past inquiry to a third party.
“He inquired what the total cost would be.”
“They asked who was responsible for the oversight.”
Polite Indirect Inquiries
Using reported structures to ask a question more tentatively or formally in the present.
“I was wondering why you decided to resign.”
“Could you tell me what time the train leaves?”
Academic/Legal Reporting
Reporting questions in a highly formal, detached manner using specific reporting verbs.
“The plaintiff questioned why the safety protocols were ignored.”
“The committee queried how the funds were allocated.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative Reporting
|
Subject + Reporting Verb + Wh-word + Subject + Verb
|
She asked why I was late.
|
|
Negative Reporting
|
Subject + Reporting Verb + Wh-word + Subject + Negative Verb
|
He asked why I didn't like it.
|
|
Reporting with 'Wonder'
|
Subject + Wondered + Wh-word + Subject + Verb
|
I wondered what he had said.
|
|
Formal Inquiry
|
Subject + Inquired + Wh-word + Subject + Verb
|
The client inquired what the fee was.
|
|
Questioning the Report
|
Auxiliary + Subject + Reporting Verb + Wh-word + Subject + Verb?
|
Did he ask why you were there?
|
|
Infinitive Variation
|
Subject + Reporting Verb + Wh-word + to + Infinitive
|
She asked what to do next.
|
Formality Spectrum
I should like to inquire as to why the proceedings have been delayed. (Business/Social)
He asked why the meeting was late starting. (Business/Social)
He asked why we were so slow. (Business/Social)
He was like, 'Why the holdup?' (Business/Social)
The Anatomy of a Reported Question
Reporting Verbs
- Ask Neutral
- Inquire Formal
- Wonder Internal
Word Order
- Subject + Verb Statement Order
- No 'Do/Does' Remove Auxiliaries
Direct vs. Reported Structure
Reporting a Wh-Question
Is there a Wh-word?
Is the reporting verb in the past?
Is there an auxiliary 'do'?
Examples by Level
He asked where the shop is.
She asked what my name is.
I asked who that man is.
They asked why you are sad.
He asked where I lived.
She wanted to know what I liked.
I asked why she was late.
They asked who cooked the dinner.
She asked me why I had chosen that book.
He wondered what time the film started.
They inquired where they could park their car.
I asked him who he was waiting for.
The interviewer asked why I had decided to change careers.
She inquired what the company's policy was regarding remote work.
He asked me how I would handle a difficult client.
They wondered why the project hadn't been completed on time.
The board questioned why the CEO had withheld such vital information.
She demanded to know who had authorized the expenditure without her consent.
The researchers investigated why the participants had reacted so inconsistently.
He queried what the implications would be if the merger failed.
The defense attorney cross-examined the witness, asking why they had hitherto remained silent.
The philosopher pondered what it truly meant to live a life of virtue in the modern age.
The diplomat inquired as to why the treaty had been summarily rejected by the council.
She questioned why the protagonist’s motivations remained so opaque throughout the novel.
Easily Confused
Learners often think they are the same. While they use the same word order, reported questions refer to the past, while indirect questions are often used for present politeness.
When 'who' is the subject of the question, the word order doesn't seem to change much, which confuses learners.
Learners sometimes try to use 'whether' with a Wh-word.
Common Mistakes
He asked where is the bus?
He asked where the bus is.
She asked what do you want.
She asked what you want.
I asked who is he.
I asked who he is.
They asked why you are here?
They asked why you are here.
He asked why did she leave.
He asked why she left.
She asked where was I going.
She asked where I was going.
I asked what time does it start.
I asked what time it started.
He asked me why I am late.
He asked me why I was late.
She wondered what had he done.
She wondered what he had done.
I asked him who was he waiting for.
I asked him who he was waiting for.
The board inquired why was the budget exceeded.
The board inquired why the budget had been exceeded.
She demanded to know what were the reasons.
She demanded to know what the reasons were.
He queried as to why did the results vary.
He queried as to why the results varied.
Sentence Patterns
I was wondering why ___.
She asked me what ___.
The investigator inquired as to how ___.
They demanded to know who ___.
Real World Usage
The recruiter asked why I was interested in the role.
She asked what time we were meeting.
I inquired why my refund hadn't been processed.
The study explored why the results were inconsistent.
The officer asked where the suspect had gone.
So I asked him why he was being so rude!
The 'Do' Deletion
No Question Marks
Nuanced Verbs
Politeness
Smart Tips
Stop! Delete 'did' and move the main verb into the Past Perfect.
Don't overthink the word order; it stays the same, just change the tense.
Use 'I was wondering if you could clarify why...' instead of 'Why did...'.
Say the reported part as a normal sentence first, then add 'He asked' at the front.
Pronunciation
Falling Intonation
Unlike direct questions which may have rising intonation, reported questions end with falling intonation because they are grammatically statements.
Stress on Wh-word
The Wh-word (why, what, where) often receives slightly more stress as it is the key information link.
Declarative Fall
I asked what he wanted. ↘
Conveys that the speaker is making a statement of fact about a past inquiry.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'SV' (Subject-Verb) for Reported Speech, not 'VS' (Verb-Subject) for Questions.
Visual Association
Imagine a question mark (?) being flattened into a period (.) as it moves from a direct quote into a reported sentence. The 'do' auxiliary falls off the sentence like a loose leaf.
Rhyme
When reporting what they say, throw the 'do' and 'does' away. Put the subject in the lead, that is all the help you need!
Story
A detective is reporting to his boss. He doesn't ask 'Who did it?'; he tells his boss 'I asked the witness who had done it.' He changes the tense to show the mystery is being solved.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down three questions you were asked today. Now, rewrite them as reported questions starting with 'Someone asked me...'.
Cultural Notes
In formal British English, 'inquire' is often spelled with an 'e' (enquire) for general questions and an 'i' (inquire) for formal investigations, though this distinction is fading.
Americans are more likely to use 'asked' even in semi-formal contexts, reserving 'inquired' for very formal or legal situations.
Using reported questions is a key 'softening' technique in global business culture to avoid sounding too demanding or aggressive.
The structure of reported speech in English evolved from Old English, where 'thaet' (that) was often used to introduce reported clauses, including questions.
Conversation Starters
Tell me about a time someone asked you why you chose your career.
If you could ask a famous person one thing, what would it be? Now, tell me what you would ask them using reported speech.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to inquire why a service was poor?
What did your parents always ask you when you were a child?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
He asked me ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
She asked why did I leave the party early.
The auditor ___ why the receipts were missing.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
He wanted to know what time the train ___ (leave) the next day.
In reported Wh-questions, we use the same word order as in direct questions.
A: 'Why are you crying?' B: 'What did he say?' C: 'He asked ___.'
Select the correct sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesHe asked me ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
She asked why did I leave the party early.
The auditor ___ why the receipts were missing.
asked / where / she / I / been / had
He wanted to know what time the train ___ (leave) the next day.
In reported Wh-questions, we use the same word order as in direct questions.
A: 'Why are you crying?' B: 'What did he say?' C: 'He asked ___.'
Select the correct sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesI wondered `when he ___ (finish) the report`.
They inquired how much it will cost?
Which sentence correctly reports: 'What are you reading?'
Translate into English: 'Ella quería saber por qué él se fue tan temprano.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct question with its reported form:
The client inquired `what their options ___ (be)`.
My mom always wants to know where are my keys.
Select the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Me preguntaba qué estaba pasando.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
Not always. If the reporting verb is in the present (e.g., 'He asks') or if the situation is still true (e.g., 'He asked where the station is'), you can keep the present tense.
No. In standard English, we do not use `that` before a Wh-word. For example, say 'He asked why I left,' not 'He asked that why I left.'
`Ask` is neutral and common. `Inquire` is formal and often used in business or official contexts. `Inquire` often takes the preposition `about` or the phrase `as to`.
For Yes/No questions, use `if` or `whether` instead of a Wh-word. For example, 'Are you coming?' becomes 'He asked if I was coming.'
These are 'dummy' auxiliaries used only to facilitate inversion in questions. Since reported questions don't have inversion, these auxiliaries are no longer needed.
No. 'I wonder why he is late' is a statement, so it ends with a period. However, 'Do you wonder why he is late?' is a question and needs a question mark.
If `shall` is used for a future fact, it becomes `would`. If it's used for a suggestion (e.g., 'Shall we go?'), it often becomes `should` (e.g., 'He asked if we should go').
In some dialects (like Hiberno-English) or in very informal speech, you might hear it, but in standard English and all exams, it is considered incorrect.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Preguntas indirectas (e.g., Me preguntó qué quería)
Spanish doesn't have an equivalent to the 'do/does' auxiliary, so the 'removal' rule isn't a problem for them.
L'interrogation indirecte (e.g., Il a demandé ce que je faisais)
French uses 'ce que' or 'ce qui' for 'what', whereas English just uses 'what'.
Indirekte Fragesätze (e.g., Er fragte, was ich mache)
In German, the verb moves to the end; in English, it just moves after the subject.
Kikimashita (e.g., Nani o shite iru ka kikimashita)
Japanese keeps the question marker 'ka', while English removes all question markers (like 'do' or the question mark).
Al-as'ila al-ghayr mubashira
Arabic does not have a mandatory backshift of tenses like English does.
Jiànjiē wèntí
Chinese has no structural change at all, making the English 'transformation' very difficult for learners.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
English Wh-Questions: What, Where, When (Wh-Questions)
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Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift)
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