Indirect question-word questions

Form of indirect question-word questions

ie rules about tense sequences [> 9.5, 15.10, 15.12-16] also apply to questions¹

actual spoken questions indirect questions
be Where are you going?' He asked (me) where I was going

ha ve. 'Why haven't you finished? He wanted to know why I (haven't)/hadn't finished
do. 'What do you think of it⁷' He wanted to know what I (think/thought of it

modals 'When must I be there⁹' He asked (me) when he must be/had to be there

Notes on the form of indirect question-word questions

1 Word order: be, have and modal auxiliaries [compare > 15.18n2]
The inversion after a question-word in a direct question changes
back to statement word order (subject + verb) in the reported
question and, if necessary, the tense is changed at the same time.
Modals may change from 'present' form to 'past' form [> 11.8.3]:
direct statement: We are going home
direct Wh-question: Where are you going?

(Wh- + inversion) indirect question: He asked (us) where we were going

(Wh- + subject + verb)

2 Word order: do, does and did [compare > 15.18n.3] Do/does/did in direct questions disappear in reported questions: direct statement: I gave it to John direct Wh-question: When did you give it to John?' indirect question: He asked me when I gave it to John

3 Indirect question-word questions with verbs other than ask Many different reporting verbs can be used other than ask, want to know, etc. [> App 45]:

/ know where he lives

She didn't say why she was coming home late

He didn't tell me how he did it

4 Question-words in short answers
Short answers can be given with Why, When, etc.:
What did she want to know? - Why/When we were leaving
(= She wanted to know why/when we were leaving.)

15 Direct and indirect speech

Indirect subject-questions

Form of indirect subject-questions

Actual spoken questions indirect questions

be: 'Who is in charge here?' He asked (me) who was in charge

there present: 'Which firm makes these parts'?' He asked (me) which firm (makes)

made those parts past: 'What caused the accident?' He asked (me) what caused/had

caused the accident modals. 'Whose novel will win the prize?' He asked (me) whose novel would

win the prize

Note on the form of indirect subject-questions

Tense changes and changes in modals occur in the usual way, but the word order of the direct question is retained in the indirect question. Reporting verbs other than ask can be used to introduce indirect subject.questions [> App 45]:

Please tell me who delivered this package

I want to know which piece fits in this puzzle

Uses of the to-infinitive in indirect speech

Form of the to-infinitive in indirect speech