SPEECH/QUESTIONS

"How much pay rise can I expect?"

• She wondered how much pay rise she can expect.

• She wondered how much pay rise she could expect.

• She wondered how much pay rise I can expect.

• She wondered how much pay rise could she expect.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In what, where, why, who, when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.

Our team leader:”What time are you going to finish the task tomorrow?”

• Our team leader asked what time we were going to finish the task the next day.

• Our team leader asked what time we are going to finish the task the next day.

• Our team leader asked what time we were going to finish the task tomorrow.

• Our team leader asked what time we are going to finish the task tomorrow.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In what, where, why, who, when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.

'Do you still work remotely?' he said.

• He said to me if I still work remotely.

• He asked me if I still worked remotely.

• He said to me if I still worked remotely.

• He asked if I still work remotely.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In yes/no questions, we use if or whether to report the question. If is more common.

'Do you like working in sales?' he asked.

• He asked me if I have liked working in sales.

• He asked me if I had liked working in sales.

• He asked me if I have like working in sales.

• He asked me if I liked working in sales.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In yes/no questions, we use if or whether to report the question. If is more common.

'Are you going to the Helsinki conference?'

• He asked me if I am going to the Helsinki conference.

• He asked me if I had been to the Helsinki conference.

• He asked me if I was going to the Helsinki conference.

• He asked me if I would go to the Helsinki conference.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In yes/no questions, we use if or whether to report the question. If is more common.

'Have you finished the project yet?'

• She asked us whether we've finished the project yet.

• She asked us whether we finished the project yet.

• She asked us whether we would finish the project yet.

• She asked us whether we'd finished the project yet.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we often use a tense which is 'further back' in the past (e.g. worked) than the tense originally used (e.g. work). This is called 'backshift'.

'What time does the train leave?'

• He asked me what time the train left.

• He asked me what time the train leaves.

• He asked me what time the train will leave.

• He asked me what time the train has left.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In what, where, why, who, when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.

'When could you get this done by?'

• He wondered when we could get it done by.

• He asked when could we get it done by.

• He wondered when could we get it done by.

• He asked when we will get it done by.

Answer explanation

In indirect speech, we change the question structure (e.g. Do you like) to a statement structure (e.g. I like). In what, where, why, who, when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.

'Would you like me to help you?'

• He offered helping me.

• He asked to help me.

• He offered to help me.

• He asked if I help me.

Answer explanation

If the question is making an offer, request or suggestion, we can use a specific verb pattern instead, for example offer + infinitive, ask + infinitive or suggest + ing.

'Can you hold this for me, please?'

• She requested if I can hold it.

• She forced me to hold it.

• She offered me to hold it.

• She asked me to hold it.