Indirect Speech - Changes in Interrogative Sentences

Changes in Interrogative Sentences:

All question are changed into sentences and the question mark is replaced by the full stop. We use reporting verbs such as asked, inquired, wanted to know, wondered or demanded. We do not use that to introduce the question, instead we use if/ whether when reporting Yes/ no question. In case of wh-questions the wh-word (or the phrase it introduces) is the subject of the verb, so the order does not change in the direct question:

(A)  'Yes /No' Questions : Rules : -

1.  Use conjunction 'if' or 'whether' in place of 'that'. 'Whether' is used when the question expresses an alternative.

     e.g. Java said to me, "Do you like tea or coffee?"                                                       Direct

            Java asked me whether I liked tea or coffee.                                                       Indirect

2.  Remove the question mark (?) and the interrogative sentence (the question) is changed to assertive sentece (Subject + verb + .............).

3.  Reporting verb - 'ask, asks, asked' is used in indirect narrations. We can also use 'inquire' or 'uninquire of'. 'Enquire of' is used when an object follows it.

      e.g. He enquired of me.

4.  Other rules in respect to the change of pronouns and change of tense are also to be followed.

     Look at the following examples :

    (a)  He said to me, "Are you going to market?"                                                    Direct

           He asked me if I was going to market.                                                           Indirect

    (b)  She said to Mohit, "Have you an extra pen?"                                                 Direct

           She asked Mohit if he had an extra pen.                                                         Indirect

   (c)   Roy said, "Am I looking good?"                                                                         Direct

          Roy asked if he was looking good.                                                                   Indirect

   (d)  He said to me, "Can you write a story?"                                                           Direct

         He asked me if I could write a story.                                                                  Indirect

   (e)  Rakhi said to me, "Will you help me?"                                                              Direct

         Rakhi asked me if I would help her.                                                                   Indirect

(B) Note : - Sometimes answer is also attached with the main question. In that case, 'yes' is changed into affimation and 'no' into negation. e.g.

(C)  The interrogative sentence is changed into assertive sentence. (subject + verb+  ....................)

Look at the following examples :

            She asked her what she wanted.                                                                       Indirect

       2.  Rajan said to me, "Why are you sad?"                                                               Direct

             Rajan asked me why I was sad.                                                                        Indirect

       3.  Ram said to Heera, "Where do you live?"                                                         Direct

             Ram asked Heera where he lived.                                                                    Indirect

      4.   He said to Hari, " When will you come?"                                                           Direct

             He asked Hari when he would come.                                                               Indirect

(D)  In case od request or advice : - Request and advice are expressed in indirect speech by 'ask', 'inquire', etc. Requests or advice are normally reported by 'should'. e.g.

(a)  She said to the customer, "Shall we dispatch these items?"                            Direct

       She asked the customer if they should dispatch those items.                         Indirect

(b)  "What shall I say father ?", she said.                                                                    Direct

       She asked her father what she should say.                                                           Indirect

(E)  When an offer is made : - e.g. "Shall I bring you something to drink?", he said to me.                                    Direct

         He offered to bring me something to drink.                                                                                                  Indirect

(F)  When suggestion is made : - Questions beginning 'will you' / 'Would you' / 'Could you'.

e.g.  "Shall we meet again tomorrow ?", she said.                                                         Direct

         She suggested to meet again the next day.                                                         Indirect