Reported questions vs. indirect questions
by antonio rosic
1. Reported questions
1.1. Form: When we are reporting questions, the subject comes before verb.
1.2. Negative questions: we do not use auxiliary verb "do" except in negative questions.
1.2.1. Direct quesion: Why this GPU doesn't supports DX11? Reported question: He asked me why this GPU didn't support DX11.
1.3. Yes/No questions: When answer to the question is "yes" or "no" we use "if" or "whether".
1.3.1. Direct question: Do you want to buy this MBO? Reported question: I asked him if he wanted to buy that MBO.
1.4. Who/What/Which: When we report questions with 'who, what or which' + to be + complement, the verb 'to be' can come before or after the complement.
1.4.1. Direct question: What is your favourite GPU brand? Reported question:
1.5. When we are transforming direct question into reported, verb tense goes one tense back.
1.5.1. Present simple => Past simple Present perfect=> Past perfect
2. Indirect questions
2.1. We use it when we want to sound polite.
2.2. Form: We begin questions with something like: Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder if...?
2.3. Do/did/does: If direct question contains "do", "did" or "does" we omit it in indirect question.
2.3.1. Direct question: How does hard drive work? Indirect question: Can you tell me how hard drive works?
2.4. Yes/No questions: When answer to question is "yes" or "no", in question we use "if" or "whether".
2.4.1. Direct question: Is that CPU under warranty? Indirect question: Could you tell me if that CPU is under warranty?