Reported questions
- Reported questions are a way to express that a question was asked, without providing a direct quotation of the question. "Yes" or "no" questions are usually reported with "if" or "whether" (for example, "I asked if he likes coffee"). When there is a question, use the question word (who, what, when, where, why, how) without any auxiliary verbs. Reported questions do not need question marks.
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Ex
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CORRECT: He asked what time school starts.
INCORRECT: He asked what time does school start. |
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CORRECT: He wanted to know if he was ready.
INCORRECT: He wanted to know if was he ready. |
| Direct question | Reported question |
| He asked, "Where did you go?" | He asked me where I went. |
| Sally asked, "What time is it?" | Sally asked what time it was. |
| I said, "Why are you running?" | I asked why he was running |