Simple explanation
What are reported questions and commands? We use reported speech when we communicate what another person said without repeating their exact words. Questions, requests, and commands can all be reported. For example, the direct question “Where do you live?” can become He asked me where I lived. The meaning remains similar, but the grammar changes because the original question is now part of a reported statement. Reporting yes/no questions When a direct question can normally be answered with yes or no and has no wh-question word, we usually introduce the reported question with if or whether. After if or whether, we use statement word order: the subject comes before the verb. For example, “Are you tired?” becomes She asked me if I was tired. Reporting wh-questions When a direct question begins with what, where, when, why, who, or how, we normally keep that question word. However, the words after it follow statement order rather than direct-question order. For example, “Where are you going?” becomes He asked me where I was going, not He asked me where was I going. What happens to do, does, and did? In many direct questions, do, does, and did are used only to create question structure. This structure is no longer needed in a reported question, so the auxiliary normally disappears. “Where do you work?” becomes She asked me where I worked. Similarly, “Why did you leave?” can become She asked me why I had left when backshift is appropriate. Tense changes in reported questions When the reporting verb is in the past, such as asked, the original tense often moves one step back. Present simple commonly becomes past simple, present continuous can become past continuous, and past simple can become past perfect. However, backshift is not automatic in every situation. If the information is still true or the reporting verb is in the present, keeping the original tense may be natural. Changing pronouns, time expressions, and place expressions Reporting a question or command can change the speaker's point of view. Pronouns and expressions of time or place should therefore match the new context. Depending on the situation, my may become his or her, tomorrow may become the next day, and here may become there. These changes depend on meaning and context rather than a fixed substitution rule. Reporting commands and requests A common structure for reporting a command is tell + person + to + base verb. For requests, ask + person + to + base verb is common. For example, “Close the door.” can become She told me to close the door. “Please help me.” can become He asked me to help him. Reporting negative commands and requests To report an instruction or request not to do something, we normally put not before the to-infinitive. The pattern is tell/ask + object + not to + base verb. For example, “Don't touch that.” becomes The teacher told us not to touch that. We do not keep don't in this structure.
Grammar formula
Reported yes/no question
subject + asked + object + if/whether + subject + verbShe asked me if I was tired.
Reported wh-question
subject + asked + object + wh-word + subject + verbHe asked me where I worked.
Positive reported command
subject + told + object + to + base verbThe manager told us to wait.
Reported request
subject + asked + object + to + base verbAnna asked me to help her.
Negative reported command or request
subject + told/asked + object + not to + base verbHe told me not to worry.
Core rules
- 1
Use statement word order in reported questions
After if, whether, or a wh-question word, normally use subject + verb rather than the inverted word order of a direct question.
- 2
Use if or whether for yes/no questions
When there is no wh-question word and the original question expects a yes/no answer, use asked + object + if/whether + subject + verb.
- 3
Keep the wh-question word
With what, where, when, why, who, or how questions, keep the original question word and follow it with statement word order.
- 4
Remove question-form do, does, and did
When do, does, or did is present only to form a direct question, it normally disappears in the reported version. The main verb carries the required tense.
- 5
Backshift when the context requires it
With a past reporting verb, tense backshift is common. However, consider whether the information is still true and whether the time reference has actually changed before applying backshift mechanically.
- 6
Use tell for many reported commands
A common pattern for a positive command is tell + object + to-infinitive, as in The manager told us to wait.
- 7
Use ask for many reported requests
A common pattern for a request is ask + object + to-infinitive, as in She asked me to help her.
- 8
Use not to for negative commands
Negative commands and requests normally follow tell/ask + object + not to + base verb.
Useful examples
She asked me if I was hungry.
She wanted to know whether I was hungry.
The original question was a yes/no question, so if introduces the reported question.
Tom asked whether I needed any help.
Tom wanted to know if I needed help.
Whether can be used instead of if in many reported yes/no questions.
My teacher asked me where I lived.
My teacher wanted to know where my home was.
Where remains, but the words after it use statement order: I lived.
Sara asked why I was laughing.
Sara wanted to know the reason I was laughing.
The correct order is why I was laughing, not why was I laughing.
He asked me what I wanted for dinner.
He wanted to know what I wanted to eat for dinner.
What remains as the question word, while the rest of the clause follows statement order.
Dad asked when I would be home.
Dad wanted to know what time I would return home.
When introduces the reported question, followed by subject + verb.
The doctor told me to get more rest.
The doctor advised or instructed me to rest more.
Told + object + to-infinitive reports the instruction without repeating the original imperative.
My colleague asked me to send the file.
My colleague requested that I send the file.
Asked + object + to-infinitive is a common way to report a request.
The teacher told us not to use our phones.
The teacher instructed us to avoid using our phones.
A negative command uses not to before the main verb.
She asked me not to tell anyone.
She requested that I keep the information private.
Asked + object + not to reports a negative request.
The receptionist asked me how I had booked the room.
The receptionist wanted to know how I had made the room reservation.
How is kept, and the clause after it has statement word order.
He asked me if I could pick him up the next day.
He wanted to know whether I could collect him the following day.
When the reporting time changes, tomorrow may become the next day.
Common mistakes
- ❌ She asked me where did I live. ✅ She asked me where I lived. Reported questions use statement word order. Did is no longer needed as a question-form auxiliary.
- ❌ He asked me did I like the movie. ✅ He asked me if I liked the movie. A reported yes/no question normally needs if or whether, followed by statement word order.
- ❌ She asked where was I going. ✅ She asked where I was going. The subject must normally come before the verb in a reported question.
- ❌ My boss told to me finish the report. ✅ My boss told me to finish the report. The correct pattern is tell + object + to-infinitive. There is no to before the object.
- ❌ He said me to wait outside. ✅ He told me to wait outside. Say does not normally take the object + to-infinitive pattern used for commands. Tell is required here.
- ❌ The teacher told us don't talk. ✅ The teacher told us not to talk. Negative reported commands use not to + base verb rather than don't + verb.
- ❌ She asked me that I was ready. ✅ She asked me if I was ready. That does not introduce a reported yes/no question. Use if or whether.
Learning tips
- First identify whether the original sentence is a question, a request, or a command. This determines the basic reporting structure.
- For a reported question, check whether the original question has a wh-word. If it does not and expects a yes/no answer, use if or whether.
- Remember that a question word does not mean question word order in reported speech. Use where I was, not where was I.
- When do, does, or did appears in the direct question, ask whether it is there only to form the question. If so, it normally disappears.
- Use told + person + to as a useful core pattern for commands and asked + person + to for requests.
- Learn not to as a unit for negative commands: told me not to go, asked us not to wait.
- Do not change pronouns, tenses, or time expressions mechanically. Check whether the speaker, time, place, or factual situation has actually changed.
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
Why do reported questions use statement word order?
Because the original question becomes part of a reporting sentence. The reported clause therefore normally follows statement order, with the subject before the verb.
What is the difference between if and whether in reported questions?
Both can introduce many reported yes/no questions. If is very common in everyday English, while whether is also correct and is often preferred in some more formal structures and contexts.
Do I always have to change the tense in a reported question?
No. Backshift is common when the reporting verb is in the past, but it is not automatic. If the information is still true or the reporting situation does not require a change in time reference, the original tense may remain appropriate.
Why is “He said me to wait” incorrect?
Say does not normally use the object + to-infinitive pattern for reporting commands. Use tell instead: He told me to wait.
Should I use ask or tell for a reported request?
Ask is normally used for a request, as in She asked me to help her. Tell is more suitable for an instruction or command, as in She told me to wait.
What happens to don't in a reported command?
A negative imperative with don't normally becomes not to in the reported structure. For example, “Don't run.” can become The teacher told us not to run.