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.