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Direct Question
Direct Question is used to give the

exact

words

used by another speaker. The words

are given between quotation marks ( )
in writing.
Example: Alex asked, "Have you been to
my apartment?"

Indirect Question
The reporting of something said or written by
conveying what was meant rather than
repeating the same words.
Example: He asked me whether I would go as
opposed to he asked me, will you go? Also
called reported speech.

Structure of reported
questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have
to change:
Pronouns
* Example:
Direct Speech: "How do you know that?" she asked me.
Reported Speech: She asked me how I knew that.

Structure of reported
questions
Tenses
* Example:
Direct Speech: The teacher asked, "Who speaks
English?
Reported Speech: The teacher wanted to know
who spoke English.

Structure of reported
questions
Place and time expressions
* Example:
Direct Speech: "How long have you worked
here? She asked.
Reported Speech: She asked me how long I'd
worked there.

Structure of reported
questions
Use the interrogative or if / whether
Example:

Type
with
interrogative

without
interrogative

Example
Direct speech

Why dont you

speak English?

Reported speech

He asked me why
I didnt speak
English

Direct speech

Do you speak
English?

Reported speech

He asked me
whether/if I spoke
English

The auxiliary verb do is not used in indirect

questions.
Example:
Direct question: He asked: Where does she
live?
Reported speech: He asked where she lived.

More examples:
Direct Speech: She asked, "Is it better to wait?
Reported Speech: She asked if it was better to wait.
Direct Speech: "Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter.
Reported Speech: The mother asked her daughter where she had been.
Direct Speech: "Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me.
Reported Speech: He wanted to know if I was going to the cinema.

More examples:
Direct Speech: "How do you know that?" she asked me.
Reported Speech: She asked me how I knew that.
Direct Speech: "Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked
me.
Reported Speech: My friend asked me if Caron had talked to
Kevin.