Reported Speech (Part 2) – Requests, Orders, And Questions

Read Reported Speech (Part 1) to learn how to make reported statements.

In Part 2, we will focus on requests, orders, and questions. 

Expresso English, available in: https://www.espressoenglish.net/reported-speech-part-2-requests-orders-and-questions/

DIRECT SPEECH	REPORTED SPEECH	EXAMPLE
Requests/orders	Asked (me/him/her) to… Told (me/him/her) to…	“Please make 10 copies of this report.” She asked me to make 10 copies of the report.“Go to the bank.” He told me to go to the bank.
Yes/no questions	Asked if… Wanted to know if…	“Are you coming to the party?” He asked if I was coming to the party.“Has John seen the new movie?” She asked if John had seen the new movie.
Other questions	Asked… Wanted to know…	“When was the company founded?” She asked when the company was founded.“What kind of car do you drive?” He wanted to know what kind of car I drive.

1. Requests/Orders

§       “Asked me to” is used for requests.

§       “Told me to” is stronger; it is used for orders/commands.

§       The main verb stays in the infinitive:
She asked me to make copies.
He told me to go to the bank.

§   

2. Yes/No Questions

§    “Asked if” and “wanted to know if” are equal.

§      The main verb changes according to the rules for reported statements:
“Did you turn off the TV?” (past simple)
She asked if I had turned off the TV (past perfect)

§       We don’t use the auxiliary verbs “do/does/did” in the reported question.

§   

3. Other Questions

§      “Asked” and “wanted to know” are equal.

§        We don’t use the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” in the reported question:
“Where does he work?”
She wanted to know where he works.

§        In questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:
“Where were you born?” (Question word + [to be] + subject)
He asked where I was born (Question word + subject + [to be])
He asked where was I born