EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Grammar

Reported Speech: Questions, Class 10

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

To report a question, use asked (or enquired, wanted to know), drop the question mark, and put the clause in statement word order. A yes/no question joins with if or whether; a wh-question keeps its wh-word. Tenses move back one step as in statements. Example: He said to me, 'Where do you live?' becomes He asked me where I lived.

Notice the question mark and do/does/did vanish, the wh-word stays or if joins, and the verb moves one tense back.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Reported Speech: Questions

A question in direct speech has inverted word order (do you live) and a question mark. In reported speech it becomes a part of a statement, so five changes are needed.

1. The reporting verb. Said to becomes asked, enquired or wanted to know. Told is never used for a question.

2. The joining word. For a yes/no question (one answered with yes or no, starting with is, are, do, does, did, have, can, will and so on) use if or whether. For a wh-question (what, where, when, why, who, how, how long) keep the same wh-word and no extra joining word.

3. Word order. The reported clause follows the order of a statement: subject then verb. There is no do, does or did and no inversion. 'Where do you live?' becomes where I lived, not where did I live.

4. Punctuation. Remove the question mark and end with a full stop.

5. Tense, pronouns, time and place. If the reporting verb is past, the tense moves one step back (present to past, present perfect and past to past perfect, will to would, can to could). Pronouns follow the speaker and listener. Time and place words change if the situation changes (today to that day, tomorrow to the next day, now to then, here to there, this to that).

No change in tense if the reporting verb is present (He asks me if I am ready) or the question states a universal truth.

Do and does as helpers. Do, does and did are used only to make a question or negative. They disappear in the report: 'Do you like tea?' becomes asked if I liked tea.

Board focus. In Question 3, a dialogue is given and you complete a report; each blank usually tests the reporting verb, if/whether, word order or a tense change.

Reported Speech: Questions: rules and format

1
Said to → asked / enquired / wanted to know
He said to me, "Where are you going?" → He asked me where I was going.
Never use told with a question.
2
Yes/no question → if or whether
"Are you ready?" said Rita. → Rita asked if I was ready.
Use whether when two choices are stated, as in whether he would stay or go.
3
Wh-question → keep the wh-word, use statement order
"What do you want?" she asked. → She asked what I wanted.
No do, does or did; no inversion.
4
Remove the question mark
"Who called you?" he asked. → He asked who had called me.
End the report with a full stop.
5
Tense backshift as in statements
"Have you finished?" the teacher asked. → The teacher asked if I had finished.
Present perfect becomes past perfect.
6
Modals: can → could, will → would, may → might
"Can you swim?" he asked. → He asked if I could swim.
Could, would, should and might do not change.
7
Time and place words shift
"Will you come here tomorrow?" she asked. → She asked if I would go there the next day.
Change only if the situation has changed.
8
No tense change if the reporting verb is in the present
Ravi asks, "Is the shop open?" → Ravi asks if the shop is open.
The reported clause keeps its tense.

Reported Speech: Questions: key facts

Yes/no question pattern: Subject
asked
object
if or whether
subject
verb (backshifted)
rest; Example: She | asked | him | if | he | had finished | the book.
Wh-question pattern: Subject
asked
object
wh-word
subject
verb (backshifted)
rest; Example: He | asked | me | where | I | lived.
What disappears: Question mark
Quotation marks
Inversion
Do, does, did
Said to; Check none of these remains.
Backshift quick table: Is, am → was
Are → were
Do, does → past simple
Have, has → had + verb
Did → had + verb
Will → would
Can → could; The same rules as statements.

How to answer Reported Speech: Questions questions

Use this routine for any question in reported speech.

1Decide the type: yes/no question or wh-question.
2Choose asked (or enquired) and the object from the dialogue.
3Add if or whether for yes/no; keep the wh-word for wh-questions.
4Rewrite in statement order: subject then verb, dropping do, does and did.
5Backshift the tense; change pronouns, time and place words.
6Replace the question mark with a full stop.

Reported Speech: Questions in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Passing on a question

Suppose your friend asks you at school, 'Have you submitted the form?' Later, you tell your mother what she asked.

Report the question to your mother.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Yes/no question: asked if or whether.
Pronoun: you becomes I.
Have submitted becomes had submitted.

Answer: My friend asked me if I had submitted the form.

Memory hook: Question mark gone, order straight.

Tricks to remember Reported Speech: Questions

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

A-I-S-T
Asked, If/wh-word, Statement order, Tense back.
Use it when: The four steps of every question report.
No do, no did
Helpers do, does and did vanish in the report.
Use it when: To avoid inversion errors.
Dot, not mark
Question mark becomes a full stop.
Use it when: Punctuation check.

Reported Speech: Questions: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: A wh-question · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level

Report: The teacher said to Sam, "Where do you live?"

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Said to becomes asked.
Keep the wh-word where.
Do you live becomes he lived (statement order).

Answer: The teacher asked Sam where he lived.

Example 2: A yes/no question · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level

Report: "Are you coming to the party?" Sana said to Ira.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Yes/no question: asked if.
Are you coming becomes she was coming.

Answer: Sana asked Ira if she was coming to the party.

Example 3: Why-question · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level

Report: The manager said to the clerk, "Why are you late?"

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Asked; keep why.
Are you becomes he was.

Answer: The manager asked the clerk why he was late.

Example 4: Past tense in the question · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Report: "What did you do yesterday?" Mother said to me.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Did you do becomes I had done (past perfect).
Yesterday becomes the previous day.

Answer: Mother asked me what I had done the previous day.

Example 5: Present perfect · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Report: The teacher said to Ali, "Have you finished your project?"

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Yes/no: asked if.
Have you finished becomes he had finished.
Your becomes his.

Answer: The teacher asked Ali if he had finished his project.

Example 6: Modal and time word · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Report: "Will you attend the meeting tomorrow?" the manager said to Rahul.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Asked whether or if.
Will becomes would.
Tomorrow becomes the next day.

Answer: The manager asked Rahul whether he would attend the meeting the next day.

Example 7: Long wh-question · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Report: "How long have you been waiting here?" the guard said to the visitor.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Keep how long.
Have been waiting becomes had been waiting.
Here becomes there.

Answer: The guard asked the visitor how long he had been waiting there.

Example 8: Complete the report · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Complete the report. Dialogue: Interviewer: "Why do you want this job?" Candidate: "I like working with children."
The interviewer (i) ______ the candidate (ii) ______ wanted that job. The candidate replied (iii) ______.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) asked.
(ii) why he or she wanted.
(iii) that he or she liked working with children.

Answer: (i) asked (ii) why he or she (iii) that he or she liked working with children.

Example 9: Dialogue to report · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Report the dialogue in two sentences: Reena: "Do you know the way to the museum?" Passer-by: "Yes, go straight and turn left."

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Question: asked if the passer-by knew the way.
Answer: replied that he did (know the way) and told her to go straight and turn left.

Answer: Reena asked the passer-by if he knew the way to the museum. He replied that he did and told her to go straight and turn left.

Example 10: Correct the error · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Find the error and correct it: The guide asked the tourists where did they want to go.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Statement order is needed after asked.
Did they want becomes they wanted.

Answer: The guide asked the tourists where they wanted to go.

Where students lose marks in Reported Speech: Questions

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Keeping inversion
The reported clause is a statement.
Wrong working
She asked me where did I live.
Right working
She asked me where I lived.
Do this: Drop do, does and did.
Usually costs: 1 mark per item.
Mistake: Using that or told
Questions use asked with if or a wh-word.
Wrong working
He told me that was I ready.
Right working
He asked me if I was ready.
Do this: Use asked + if/whether.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Leaving the question mark
The report is a statement.
Wrong working
She asked if I was ready?
Right working
She asked if I was ready.
Do this: End with a full stop.
Usually costs: 1 mark in a strict scheme.
Mistake: Forgetting backshift
A past reporting verb needs a past clause.
Wrong working
He asked me if I have finished.
Right working
He asked me if I had finished.
Do this: Move the tense one step back.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Underline the question and decide yes/no or wh before writing.
Write asked and statement order; remove do, does and did.
Use if or whether only for yes/no questions.
Backshift the tense and change pronouns and time words.
End with a full stop, not a question mark.

Practice questions on Reported Speech: Questions

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level
Report: "What is your name?" the officer said to the boy.
Hint
Is becomes was.
Answer
The officer asked the boy what his name was.
Q2 · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level
Report: "Do you like mangoes?" Anu said to Dev.
Hint
Do disappears.
Answer
Anu asked Dev if he liked mangoes.
Q3 · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level
Report: The librarian said to the students, "Who has taken the atlas?"
Hint
Who is the subject.
Answer
The librarian asked the students who had taken the atlas.
Q4 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Report: "Can you help me with this sum?" Priya said to Zoya.
Hint
Can becomes could; me becomes her; this becomes that.
Answer
Priya asked Zoya if she could help her with that sum.
Q5 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Report: "When will the results be declared?" the students said to the teacher.
Hint
Will be becomes would be.
Answer
The students asked the teacher when the results would be declared.
Q6 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Report: "Did you see the accident yesterday?" the police officer said to the shopkeeper.
Hint
Did see becomes had seen.
Answer
The police officer asked the shopkeeper if he had seen the accident the previous day.
Q7 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Report: "How many books have you read this month?" the teacher said to us.
Hint
This month becomes that month.
Answer
The teacher asked us how many books we had read that month.
Q8 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Complete the report. Dialogue: Customer: "Is this shirt available in blue?" Shopkeeper: "Yes, but it is costlier."
The customer (i) ______ the shopkeeper (ii) ______ shirt (iii) ______ in blue. The shopkeeper (iv) ______ it (v) ______ costlier.
Hint
Is, was; this, that.
Answer
(i) asked (ii) if that (iii) was available (iv) replied that (v) was
Q9 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Rewrite as a report in three sentences: Sunil: "Where are you going, Mohan?" Mohan: "I am going to the market." Sunil: "Will you buy some fruit for me?"
Hint
Wh-question, answer, yes/no question.
Answer
Sunil asked Mohan where he was going. Mohan replied that he was going to the market. Sunil asked him if he would buy some fruit for him.
Q10 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
A student writes: He asked me that where was I going. Explain the two errors and correct the sentence.
Hint
Joining word and word order.
Answer
Errors: (1) that is used with a wh-question, but the wh-word where is the only joining word needed; (2) the order was I is inverted, while a report needs statement order, I was. Correct: He asked me where I was going.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Which reporting verb is used for questions?Show answer
Asked (or enquired, wanted to know).
2.Which words join a yes/no question?Show answer
If or whether.
3.What joins a wh-question?Show answer
The wh-word itself.
4.What happens to do, does and did?Show answer
They are dropped in the report.
5.What replaces the question mark?Show answer
A full stop.
6.How is Can you swim? reported?Show answer
As asked if I could swim.

Reported Speech: Questions: frequently asked questions

How do I report a yes/no question?

Use asked if or asked whether, then a clause in statement order with the tense moved back.

How do I report a wh-question?

Use asked with the same wh-word, followed by subject and verb in statement order.

Can I use told in questions?

No; told is for statements and commands.

Where does this appear in the CBSE paper?

In the grammar section (Question 3), as a dialogue to be completed in reported speech.