UNIT 32: Grammar: Reported questions, orders, requests
REPORTED QUESTIONS, ORDERS, REQUESTS
Use
Example
To
report
what
someone
else
asked/
ordered/ requested
Pat asked me if I had tried the jeans on in
the shop.
Form
Direct questions/ order/ request
Reported questions/ order/ request
questions beginning with ‘have’, ‘do’ or ‘be’
‘Have you been to the gallery?’ he asked
her.
He asked her if she had been to the gallery.
‘Do you want a sweater?’ my mum asked.
My mum asked if I wanted a sweater.
‘Are you making a skirt?’ I asked Anne.
I asked Anne if she was making a skirt.
questions beginning with a modal
‘Can you paint?’ Mary asked her friend.
Mary asked her friend if he could paint.
‘Will you make me one?’ I asked Terry.
I asked Terry if he would make me one.
‘Shall I wear a jacket?’ I asked my Mum.
I asked my Mum if I should wear a jacket.
‘May I borrow your coat?’ Mr Jones aksed
me.
Mr Jones asked me if he might borrow my
coat.
questions beginning with a question word
‘What kind of shoes are in fashion now?’
my mum asked me.
My mum asked me what kind of shoes
were in fashion at the moment.
‘Who did you see at the fashion show?’
asked Ben.
Ben asked who I had seen at the fashion
show.
‘Which one do you want?’ Sarah asked
Liam.
Sarah asked Liam which one he wanted.
‘When will they finish the house?’ I asked.
I asked when they would finish the house.
‘Why did you say that?’ my sister asked
me.
My sister asked me why I had said that.
‘How much did your hat cost?’ Ed asked
Ed asked Carl how much his hat had cost.