5. Reporting Questions

When a question is reported, it becomes an indirect question. An indirect question does not end with a question mark; it ends with a full stop (period). We do not use quotation marks in indirect questions.

Examples:

  • The reporter asked the weatherman, "When is  the rain going to stop?"
  • The reporter asked the weatherman when the rain was  going to stop.
  • The police officer asked him, "Where were  you last Sunday ?"
  • The police officer asked him where he  was  the previous Sunday .

We often use if  in indirect questions.

Examples:

  • "Do you believe in one god or many gods?"
  • My uncle asked if  I believe in one god or many gods.
  • My neighbor's asked me, "Do you feel lonely without your wife and children?"
  • My neighbor asked me if  I felt lonely without my wife and children.

We can use whether  or whether or not  instead of if .

Examples:

  • She asked whether  I believe in one god or many gods.
  • My sister asked me whether  /  whether or not  I would join her in jogging up the hill.