Direct Indirect Speech (Narration) part: 7. Interrogative Sentences

 

Conversion of Interrogative Sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Rules	Examples
If a sentence in the direct speech begins with a question word (e.g. what/where/when, etc.), the reporting verb is usually changed to verbs such as ‘enquire’ and ‘asked’. The inverted commas and the question mark are omitted, and  no conjunction is used. The structure of the direct speech is changed from interrogative form to assertive form.	Direct: The boy said, ”Where do you live?” Indirect: The boy inquired where I live. Direct: She said to me, ”What were they doing at home?” Indirect: She asked me what they had been doing at home? Direct: He said, "Where are you going?" Indirect: He asked where I was going. Direct: She said, "What is your name?" Indirect: She asked what my name was. Direct: They said, "When will you arrive?" Indirect: They asked when I would arrive. Direct: John said, "Why are you late?" Indirect: John asked why I was late. Direct: The teacher said, "Who wrote this answer?" Indirect: The teacher asked who had written that answer. Direct: She said, "How do you solve this problem?" Indirect: She asked how I solved that problem. Direct: He said, "Which book do you prefer?" Indirect: He asked which book I preferred. Direct: They said, "Whose bag is this?" Indirect: They asked whose bag that was. Direct: Mom said, "What time does the train leave?" Indirect: Mom asked what time the train left. Direct: The officer said, "Where did you park your car?" Indirect: The officer asked where I had parked my car. Direct: She said, "How much does this cost?" Indirect: She asked how much that cost. Direct: He said, "When is your birthday?" Indirect: He asked when my birthday was. Direct: The stranger said, "Why are you crying?" Indirect: The stranger asked why I was crying. Direct: The boss said, "How long will the project take?" Indirect: The boss asked how long the project would take. Direct: She said, "Where have you been?" Indirect: She asked where I had been.
If a sentence in the direct speech begins with auxiliary verb (helping verb), we use the conjunction ‘if’ or ‘whether’ after the reporting verb	Direct: She said to me, ”Will you come to the party?” Indirect: She asked me whether I would come to the party. 1. Present Simple → Past Simple Direct: He said, "Do you like chocolate?" Indirect: He asked if I liked chocolate. Direct: She said, "Does he know the answer?" Indirect: She asked if he knew the answer. Direct: They said, "Is she at home?" Indirect: They asked if she was at home. Direct: She said, "Do you like ice cream?" Indirect: She asked if I liked ice cream. Direct: He said, "Does she work here?" Indirect: He asked whether she worked there. Direct: They said, "Is he your brother?" Indirect: They asked if he was my brother. Direct: She said, "Can you help me?" Indirect: She asked whether I could help her. Direct: He said, "Have you seen my keys?" Indirect: He asked if I had seen his keys. Direct: The teacher said, "Does everyone understand the lesson?" Indirect: The teacher asked if everyone understood the lesson. Direct: She said, "Are you busy?" Indirect: She asked whether I was busy. Direct: He said, "Is it raining outside?" Indirect: He asked if it was raining outside. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Past Simple → Past Perfect Direct: He said, "Did you complete the assignment?" Indirect: He asked if I had completed the assignment. Direct: She said, "Was he late for the meeting?" Indirect: She asked if he had been late for the meeting. Direct: They said, "Did you see the accident?" Indirect: They asked if I had seen the accident. Direct: She said, "Did you finish your homework?" Indirect: She asked if I had finished my homework. Direct: He said, "Did she call you yesterday?" Indirect: He asked whether she had called me the day before. Direct: They said, "Was he at the party last night?" Indirect: They asked if he had been at the party the night before. Direct: She said, "Did they arrive on time?" Indirect: She asked whether they had arrived on time. Direct: He said, "Did you see the movie?" Indirect: He asked if I had seen the movie. Direct: The teacher said, "Did you understand the lesson?" Indirect: The teacher asked if I had understood the lesson. Direct: She said, "Was it cold yesterday?" Indirect: She asked whether it had been cold the previous day. Direct: He said, "Did she pass the exam?" Indirect: He asked if she had passed the exam. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Present Perfect → Past Perfect Direct: She said, "Have you finished your homework?" Indirect: She asked if I had finished my homework. Direct: He said, "Has she left the office?" Indirect: He asked if she had left the office. Direct: They said, "Have they arrived?" Indirect: They asked if they had arrived. Direct: She said, "Have you finished your homework?" Indirect: She asked if I had finished my homework. Direct: He said, "Has she called you?" Indirect: He asked whether she had called me. Direct: They said, "Have you ever been to London?" Indirect: They asked if I had ever been to London. Direct: She said, "Have they left already?" Indirect: She asked whether they had left already. Direct: He said, "Has it stopped raining?" Indirect: He asked if it had stopped raining. Direct: The teacher said, "Have you completed your assignment?" Indirect: The teacher asked if I had completed my assignment. Direct: She said, "Have you seen this movie before?" Indirect: She asked whether I had seen that movie before. Direct: He said, "Has he arrived at the airport?" Indirect: He asked if he had arrived at the airport. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Future Simple → Conditional (Would) Direct: He said, "Will you help me?" Indirect: He asked if I would help him. Direct: She said, "Shall I call you later?" Indirect: She asked if she should call me later. Direct: They said, "Will she attend the meeting?" Indirect: They asked if she would attend the meeting. Direct: She said, "Will you help me?" Indirect: She asked if I would help her. Direct: He said, "Will she come to the party?" Indirect: He asked whether she would come to the party. Direct: They said, "Will we reach on time?" Indirect: They asked if they would reach on time. Direct: She said, "Will he be at the meeting?" Indirect: She asked whether he would be at the meeting. Direct: He said, "Will it rain tomorrow?" Indirect: He asked if it would rain the next day. Direct: The teacher said, "Will you complete your work by Monday?" Indirect: The teacher asked if I would complete my work by Monday. Direct: She said, "Will they visit us next week?" Indirect: She asked whether they would visit them the following week. Direct: He said, "Will I pass the exam?" Indirect: He asked if he would pass the exam. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Using "Whether" Instead of "If" Direct: She said, "Do you prefer tea or coffee?" Indirect: She asked whether I preferred tea or coffee. Direct: He said, "Can I go outside or should I stay in?" Indirect: He asked whether he could go outside or stay in. Direct: They said, "Will you join us or not?" Indirect: They asked whether I would join them or not. Direct: She said, "Do you like chocolate?" Indirect: She asked whether I liked chocolate. Direct: He said, "Is she coming to the party?" Indirect: He asked whether she was coming to the party. Direct: They said, "Did he finish the project?" Indirect: They asked whether he had finished the project. Direct: She said, "Has he called you?" Indirect: She asked whether he had called me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: Use "if" or "whether" after the reporting verb. Change question structure into statement structure (Subject + Verb). Remove the question mark (❓) in indirect speech. Backshift tenses if the reporting verb is in past tense.