Transforming a question
Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
transform the question into an indirect question
use the interrogative or if / whether
type |
example |
|
With interrogative |
Direct speech |
“Why don’t you speak English?” |
Reported speech |
He asked me why I didn’t speak English |
|
Without interrogative |
Direct speech |
“Do you speak English?” |
Reported speech |
He asked me whether /if I spoke English |
|
Besides, note that instead of ‚that‘ you use the interrogative. If there is no interrogative, use ‚whether‘ / ‚if‘.
|
Direct speech |
Reported speech |
Statement |
He said: “She lives in London” |
He said that she lived in London |
Question with interrogative |
He asked: “ Where does she live?” |
He asked whether she lived in London |
Question without interrogative |
He asked: “does she live in London?” |
He asked whether she lived in London. He asked if she lived in London |
It is also important that you use an indirect question in reported speech, i.e. after the interrogative or ‚whether‘ / ‚if‘ you continue the sentence as if it were a statement (subject-verb etc.). The auxiliary verb ‚do‘ is not used in indirect questions.
Example:
He asked: “Where does she live?“ – He asked where she lived.
Transformation of a request
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
Pronouns
place and time expressions
type |
Example |
Direct speech |
“Carol, speak English” |
Reported speech |
He told Carol to speak English |
Tenses are not relevant for requests – simply use ‚to‘ + infinite verb.
Example:
She said, “Say hello to your mum.“ – She asked me to say hello to my mum.
For negative requests, use ‚not to‘ + infinite verb.
Example:
He said, “Don’t give up, Bob.“ – He advised Bob not to give up.
Additional Information and Exceptions
Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:
main clauses connected with and / but
tense of the introductory clause
reported speech for difficult tenses
exceptions for backshift
requests with must, should, ought to and let’s
Main Clauses connected with and / but
If two complete main clauses are connected with ‚and‘ or ‚but‘, put ‚that‘ after the conjunction.
Example:
He said,“I saw her but she didn’t see me.“ – He said that he had seen her but that she hadn’t seen him.“
If the subject is left out in the second main clause (the conjunction is followed by a verb), do not use ‚that‘.
Example:
She said,“I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ – He said that she was a nurse and worked in a hospital.“
Tense of the Introductory Clause
The introductory clause usually is in Past Tense.
Present Tense is often used to report a conversation that is still going on, e. g. during a phone call or while reading a letter.
Example:
“I am fine.“ – Tom says / writes that he is fine.
The introductory clause can also be in another tense. In the following table you can see, for which tense of the introductory clause you have to use backshift in reported speech
No backshift If introductory clauses is in… |
Backshift If introductory clause is in … |
Present Simple (he says…) Present perfect (he has said…) Future I will (He will say) Future I going to (he is going to say) |
Past Simple ( he said…) Past perfect (he said that…) Future II (He will have said…) Conditional I (he would say…) Conditional II (he would have said…) |
Backshift exceptions
Backshift of Simple Present is optional if the situation is still unchanged or if you agree with the original speaker.
Example:
“Canberra is the capital of Australia.“
She said that Canberra is / was the capital of Australia.
Backshift of Simple Past and Past Progressive is optional if they cannot be mistakenly taken for backshift of Present Tense. So backshift is not necessary if there is a time expression indicating past.
Example:
“She left Boston on Monday.“
He said that she left / had left Boston on Monday.
Simple Past and Past Progressive do not normally change in sentences with when / if.
Example:
“When I was having breakfast, the telephone suddenly rang.“
She said that when she was having breakfast, the telephone suddenly rang.
Example:
“If I had more time, I would learn French.“
He said that if he had more time, he would learn French.
Requests
The basic rule for requests is: introductory clause + ‚to‘ + infinite verb.
Example:
“Say hello to your mum.“
She asked me to say hello to my mum.
Advise expressions with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge.
Example:
“You must read that book.“
He advised / urged me to read that book.
The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are various possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
“Let’s go to the cinema.“
He suggested going to the cinema.
He suggested that we should go.to the cinema.