Main points
*You use reported questions to talk about a question that someone else has asked.
*In reported questions, the subject of the question comes before the verb.
*You use ‘if’ or ‘whether’ in reported ‘yes/no’- questions.
a) When you are talking about a question that someone has asked, you use a reported question.
- She asked me why I was so late.
- He wanted to know where I was going.
- I demanded to know what was going on.
- I asked her if I could help her.
- I asked her whether there was anything wrong.
In formal and written English, ‘enquire’ (also spelled ‘inquire’) is often used instead of ‘ask’.
- Elena had enquired if she did a lot of acting.
- He inquired whether he could see her.
b) When you are reporting a question, the verb in the reported clause is often in a past tense. This is because you are often talking about the past when you are reporting someone else’s words.
- She asked me why I was so late.
- Pat asked him if she had hurt him.
However, you can use a present or future tense if the question you are reporting relates to the present or future.
- Mark was asking if you’re enjoying your new job.
- They asked if you’ll be there tomorrow night.
c) In reported questions, the subject of the question comes before the verb, just as it does in affirmative sentences.
- She asked me why I was late.
- I asked what he was doing.
d) You do not normally use the auxiliary ‘do’ in reported questions.
- She asked him if his parents spoke French.
- They asked us what we thought.
He auxiliary ‘do’ can be used in reported questions, but only for emphasis, or to make a contrast with something that has already been said. It is not put before the subject as in direct questions.
- She asked me whether I really did mean it.
- I told him I didn’t like classical music. He asked me what kind of music I did like.
e) You use ‘if’ or ‘whether’ to introduce reported ‘yes/no’- questions.
- I asked him if he was on holiday.
- She hugged him and asked him whether he was all right.
- I asked him whether he was single.
‘Whether’ is used especially when there is a choice of possibilities.
- I was asked whether I wanted to stay at a hotel or at his home.
- They asked whether Tim was or was not in the team.
- I asked him whether he loved me or not.
Note that you can put ‘or not’ immediately after ‘whether’, but not immediately after ‘if’.
- The police didn’t ask whether or not they were in.
---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A - Part B
---------------------------------------------
See also:
No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire