Reported questions
Definition
A reported question communicates what someone asked without repeating the direct question. It uses statement word order, and yes/no questions are introduced by if or whether.
Examples
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She asked where I lived.
The reported wh-question uses statement order: I lived.
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He asked whether the shop was open.
Whether introduces a reported yes/no question.
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They wanted to know why the train had stopped.
The original question is integrated into a larger statement.
Direct question vs. reported question
Where does Lina work?
The direct question uses auxiliary-subject order.
He asked where Lina worked.
The reported clause uses statement order and no does.
A reported question remains a question in meaning, but its grammar is that of an embedded clause rather than an independent question.
The question mark usually disappears
When a reported question forms part of a statement, the whole sentence normally ends with a full stop. A question mark is used only when the complete sentence itself is a direct question.
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She asked what time the meeting started.
The complete sentence reports an earlier question and ends as a statement.
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Can you tell me what time the meeting starts?
The whole sentence is a direct request, so it takes a question mark.
Common mistakes
She asked where did I live.
She asked where I lived.
Use statement word order and remove did.
He asked was the shop open.
He asked if the shop was open.
A reported yes/no question needs if or whether.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly reports Where do you work?
The reported clause uses statement order: where I worked.Which sentence correctly reports a yes/no question?
Whether introduces the clause, followed by statement order.Which punctuation is correct for a reported question inside a statement?
The sentence is a statement containing an embedded question, so it uses statement order and a full stop.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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