Reports Of Yes-no Questions

REPORTS OF QUESTIONS Reports of YES-NO questions  When

a yes-no question (an alternative question) is reported indirectly, “if” or “whether” is used with a declarative clause structure.

 In

the following examples, “if” or “whether” can be used with no change in meaning.

Examples of reported yes-no questions Direct report 1. “Will you work as a coeditor with us?” 2. “Will you be able to do it? ” 3. “Should I come over in the near future?” 

-possible question that was never asked: 4. “Do you want to stay overnight?”

Examples of reported yes-no questions Indirect report 1. They asked me if I would work as a co-editor with them. 2. I asked him whether he would be able to do it. 3. Jules just phoned me wondering whether she should come over in the near future. 

4. I´m glad they didn´t ask me if I wanted to stay overnight.

REPORTS OF QUESTIONS Reports of WH- questions • When we ask people for information, we sometimes begin our questions with Do you know...? or Could you tell me...? - If you begin a question in this way, the word order is different from the word order in a simple questions: • Compare: simple question: gone?

Where has Tom

Do you know where Tom has gone?



When the question (Where has Tom gone?) is a part of a bigger sentence (Do you know...), it loses the normal question word order.

Compare:  When will Ann arrive? -Do you have any idea when Ann will arrive? 

What time is it? -Could you tell me what time it is?



Why are you laughing? -Tell us why you are laughing.

Be carefull with do/does/did questions When does the movie begin? -Do you know when the movie begins?  Why did Ann leave early? -I wonder why Ann left early. 

Use “if” or “whether” when there is no other question word: Did he see you? -Do you know if (or whether) he saw you?



The same changes in word order happen in reported questions: Direct The police officer said to us, “Where are you going?”  Indirect The police officer asked us where we were going. 

Direct Tom said, “What time do the banks close?”  Indirect Tom wanted to know what time the banks closed. 



When a wh-question is reported indirectly, the word order is normaly declarative rather than interrogative:

- So I asked him what the arrangements were. (So I asked him what were the arrangements.) - I phoned up the hospital and asked who I should address the letter to. (...who should I address the letter to.)

 In

informal spoken style, interrogative word order is sometimes used:

- I asked him where was he going but he wouldn´t say. (I asked him where he was going...) - She asked me when are you going to visit her. (She asked me when you are going...)

ANSWERS (Ex.1):

• • • • • • • • • •

Could you tell me where the post office is? Do you know what this word means? I wonder what time it is? Can´t you remember where you parked your car? Do you have any idea where Jack lives? Do you know what time he left? I want to know what qualifications I need. I don´t know why Mary didn´t come to the party. Tell us why are you laughing. Do you have any idea when Ann will arrive?

ANSWERS (Ex.2): 1. 2. 3. 4.

Does she like being a teacher? Does he enjoy his job? Did he arrest anyone yesterday? Do they have a car? / Have they got a car?

INDIRECT REPORT:

1.a. He asked me if she liked being a teacher. 2.a. She asked me whether he enjoyed his job. 3.a. They wanted to know if he arrested anyone yesterday. 4.a. He was wondering if they had a car.