1. Lesson Overview

In this lesson, you will learn:

• How to report yes/no questions
• Use of “if” and “whether.”
• Removing question structure
• Tense backshift rules
• Pronoun and time changes
• Common transformation mistakes

When reporting a yes/no question, we:

• Remove quotation marks
• Use if or whether
• Change question order to statement order
• Apply tense backshift (if needed)

2. Direct Yes/No Question Structure

Direct:

She said, “Are you ready?”
He asked, “Did you finish the work?”

Notice:

• Auxiliary before subject
• Question mark

3. Indirect Yes/No Question Structure

Reporting verb + if/whether + subject + verb

No question mark.
No inversion.

Example 1

Direct:

She asked, “Are you ready?”

Indirect:

She asked if I was ready.

“Are you” → “I was”
Question order removed

Example 2

Direct:

He asked, “Did you finish the work?”

Indirect:

He asked whether I had finished the work.

Past simple → past perfect
“Did you finish?” becomes “I had finished.”

4. If vs Whether

Both are usually interchangeable.

She asked if I was ready.
She asked whether I was ready.

However, “whether” is more formal and preferred in academic writing.

5. Removing Question Word Order

Direct:

Did she complete the task?

Incorrect indirect:

He asked if did she complete the task. 

Correct:

He asked if she had completed the task. 

Always use statement word order.

6. Tense Backshift

The same backshift rules apply as in statements.

7. Time & Pronoun Changes

Direct:

She asked, “Will you come tomorrow?”

Indirect:

She asked if I would come the next day.

will → would
tomorrow → the next day
you → I

8. When No Backshift Is Needed

If the reporting verb is in present:

She asks, “Are you ready?”
She asks if I am ready.

9. Common Errors

⚠ Keeping question structure
Incorrect: He asked if did I finish.
Correct: He asked if I had finished.

⚠ Forgetting “if/whether.”
Incorrect: He asked I was ready.
Correct: He asked if I was ready.

⚠ Using a question mark in indirect speech

Remove question mark.

10. End of Lesson Check

You should now be able to:

✅Convert yes/no questions correctly

✅Use if/whether properly

✅Remove inversion

✅Apply tense backshift

✅Change pronouns and time expressions