Read Reported Speech (Part 1) to learn how to make reported statements.
In Part 2, we will focus on 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
Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz
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