Indirect Speech - Changes in Interrogative Sentences

Concept Explanation

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:

"Who owns the bookshop?",Rajesh asked. (Direct Question)

Rajesh asked who owned the bookshop. (Indirect Question)

"I asked the resort manager, which room has the best view?" (Direct Question)

I asked the resort manager which room had the best view. (Indirect Question)

"Have the police caught the culprit?", Suhani asked me. (Direct Question)

Suhani asked me if the police had caught the culprit. (Indirect 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

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.

She said to me, "Can you solve this problem?" "No", I said. Direct

She asked me if I could solve that problem, I said, I couldn't or I replied in negative. Indirect

He said to me, "Do you know me ?" I said, "Yes". Direct

He asked me if I knew him, I said, I did or I replied in affimative. Indirect

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

Look at the following examples :

She said to her, " What do you want?" Direct

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

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

Change the following sentence into Indirect speech . 1. He asked her , " Can you see a woman seated at a table ? " 2. He said to me ," What are you doing ? "
A. 1. He asked her if she can see a woman seated at a table. 2. He asked me what I were doing .
B. 1. He asked her if she could see a woman seated at a table. 2. He asked me what I was doing .
C. 1. He asked her if she could be see a woman seated at a table. 2. He asked me what he was doing .
D. 1. He asked her if she could be see a woman seated at a table. 2. He asked me what he were doing .
Right Option : B
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Question : 2

Change the following sentence into Indirect speech . The girl said to her father , " Have you brought a pen for me ?"
A. The girl asked her father if she had brought a pen for her .
B. The girl ask her father if he had brought a pen for her .
C. The girl asks her father if he have brought a pen for her .
D. The girl asked her father if he had brought a pen for her .
Right Option : D
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Question : 3

Change the following sentence into Indirect speech . 1. You said to me , " Why have you failed ?" 2. Mina said ," Why must I stay ? "
A. 1. You ask me why I had failed. 2. Mina asks why she must stay .
B. 1. You asked me why you had failed. 2. Mina asked why he must stay .
C. 1. You asked me why I have failed. 2. Mina asked why she must be stay .
D. 1. You asked me why I had failed. 2. Mina asked why she must stay .
Right Option : D
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