When reporting someone’s words, it is essential to accurately convey the intended meaning. Reported questions, also known as indirect speech, play a crucial role in relaying information while maintaining the context of the original question. In this article, we will explore how to report yes/no and wh-questions effectively. We will also provide practice exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Reporting Yes/No Questions:
When reporting yes/no questions, we need to modify the sentence structure slightly. Here’s an example:
Direct Question: “Are you going to the party?”
Reported Question: She asked if I was going to the party.
As you can see, the word order changes in the reported question. The question mark is also omitted. Additionally, the word “if” is used to introduce the reported question. Let’s look at another example:
Direct Question: “Did you finish your homework?”
Reported Question: He wondered if I had finished my homework.
Again, we observe the inversion of subject and auxiliary verb in the reported question. The word “if” is crucial in indicating that it is being reported indirectly.
Reporting Wh-Questions:
Wh-questions require a similar approach when reporting. Let’s consider the following example:
Direct Question: “Where are you going?”
Reported Question: She asked me where I was going.
In this case, the wh-word “where” is retained in the reported question. The word order changes, and the question mark is no longer necessary. Here’s another example:
Direct Question: “How did you solve the problem?”
Reported Question: He wanted to know how I had solved the problem.
Once again, we observe the inversion of subject and auxiliary verb. The wh-word “how” is retained in the reported question, while the question mark is omitted.
Practice Exercises:
Now, let’s reinforce our understanding with some practice exercises. Try to report the following questions:
1. Direct Question: “Have you seen my keys?”
Reported Question: [Your answer]
2. Direct Question: “Who is coming to the party?”
Reported Question: [Your answer]
3. Direct Question: “What time does the movie start?”
Reported Question: [Your answer]
Answers:
1. Reported Question: She asked if I had seen her keys.
2. Reported Question: He wanted to know who was coming to the party.
3. Reported Question: They wondered what time the movie started.
By practicing these exercises, you can become more confident in reporting both yes/no and wh-questions. Remember to pay close attention to the changes in word order and the use of “if” in yes/no questions. Additionally, make sure to retain the appropriate wh-word in wh-questions. Happy reporting!
