Zorg SpaceShe asked me where I lived
The rule
A reported question keeps the tense shift you learned for statements and adds the word order of an indirect question: the subject comes before the verb and do, does and did disappear. Where do you live? becomes She asked me where I lived. With no question word, join it with if or whether: Are you married? → He asked if I was married. There is no question mark, because the sentence is now a statement about a question. A reported request or order uses asked or told + the person + to: She asked me to wait.
asked (+ person) + question word + subject + verb · asked if / whether … · asked me to + base
Examples
She asked me where I lived.
He asked if I had an appointment.
They asked us to wait in the corridor.
The officer told me not to park there.
Common mistakes
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Wrong: She asked me where did I live.
Right: She asked me where I lived.
A reported question uses statement order and drops did.
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Wrong: He asked me was I married.
Right: He asked me if I was married.
With no question word, if or whether joins the halves.
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Wrong: She asked me that I wait outside.
Right: She asked me to wait outside.
A reported request takes to + the base verb.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
- He asked me what I wanted.
- He asked me what did I want.
- He asked me what do I want.
- He asked me what wanted I.
Show answer
Answer: A He asked me what I wanted.
Statement order, and did disappears.
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2Choose the correct sentence.
- She asked whether the shop was still open.
- She asked whether was the shop still open.
- She asked was the shop still open.
- She asked whether did the shop still open.
Show answer
Answer: A She asked whether the shop was still open.
After whether the clause is a statement.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- The nurse asked me that I take off my coat.
- The nurse asked me to take off my coat.
- The nurse asked to me to take off my coat.
- The nurse asked me taking off my coat.
Show answer
Answer: B The nurse asked me to take off my coat.
A request is ask + person + to + base verb.
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4Choose the correct sentence.
- He told me to not worry about it at all.
- He told me do not worry.
- He told to me not to worry.
- He told me not to worry.
Show answer
Answer: D He told me not to worry.
A negative order puts not in front of to.
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5Fill in the gap.
She asked me how long I _____ been waiting.
- have
- has
- did
- had
Show answer
Answer: D She asked me how long I had been waiting.
The present perfect of the question steps back.
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6Fill in the gap.
He asked _____ I could help him.
- do
- did
- that
- if
Show answer
Answer: D He asked if I could help him.
No question word, so if.
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7Fill in the gap.
They asked us _____ our passports.
- showing
- to show
- that we show
- show
Show answer
Answer: B They asked us to show our passports.
A request takes to + the base verb.
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8Fill in the gap.
The teacher asked why we _____ late.
- did be
- were
- was
- are
Show answer
Answer: B The teacher asked why we were late.
are steps back to were, and we is plural.
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9Put the words in the right order.
She asked me if I had a car
Show answer
Answer: She asked me if I had a car.
if joins the halves and the verb steps back.
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10Put the words in the right order.
He asked us to sign the form
Show answer
Answer: He asked us to sign the form.
ask + person + to + base verb.
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