Form
(Reporting Verb) + if / whether + S + Verb.
“Are you happy?” → She asked if I was happy.
“Did you finish?” → He asked whether I had finished.
Meanings
Reporting a Question
When we report a question, we follow the same rules as statements for backshifting tenses and changing pronouns/time/place. However, there are three new, very important rules:
- Change Word Order: The word order changes from a question back to a normal statement (Subject + Verb).
- Remove Question Mark: The reported question ends with a full stop (.), not a question mark (?).
- Add a Connector: We add a connecting word (`if`, `whether`, or the question word itself).
The reporting verb is usually ask (e.g., “He asked me…”).