Reported questions & commands (intro)
asked if/whether, asked + wh-, told/asked + to.
When we report what someone asked or ordered, we do NOT keep the original question or command word-for-word. For yes/no questions, we use 'asked + if / whether' and switch to statement word order (subject before verb, no auxiliary 'do/does/did'): 'Are you ready?' → She asked if I was ready. For wh- questions, we use 'asked + wh- word' and again use statement word order — no inversion: 'Where do you live?' → He asked where I lived. Notice that we still apply the usual backshift of tenses (Present Simple → Past Simple, etc.) when the reporting verb is past. For commands and requests, we use 'told + object + to + infinitive' (orders) or 'asked + object + to + infinitive' (polite requests): 'Close the door!' → The teacher told us to close the door. For negative commands, add 'not' before 'to': 'Don't shout!' → She told him not to shout. For example: The doctor told the patient to rest and asked whether he had eaten anything.
Rules
- 1Yes/no questions → asked + if/whether + statement word order (subject + verb): 'Is she here?' → He asked if she was there.
- 2Wh- questions → asked + wh- word + statement word order, no auxiliary: 'Where do you live?' → She asked where I lived.
- 3Backshift applies: Present Simple → Past Simple, is/are → was/were, can → could, will → would.
- 4Commands/orders → told + object + to + infinitive: 'Sit down!' → The teacher told us to sit down.
- 5Negative commands → told/asked + object + not + to + infinitive: 'Don't be late!' → She told him not to be late.
Practice
10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard