Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for Wh-Questions

Wh-questions are questions that begin with question words such as what, where, when, who, why, which, whose, and how. These questions are used to ask for specific information, not just yes or no answers.

When we change Wh-questions from direct speech to indirect speech, the structure changes significantly. Unlike Yes/No questions, we do not use “if” or “whether.” Instead, we retain the Wh-word and convert the sentence into a statement form.

What Happens When We Change Wh-Questions?

In indirect speech, a question is no longer asked directly. It is reported, so the sentence becomes a statement rather than a question.

General Rules for Changing Wh-Questions

1. Change the Reporting Verb

In interrogative sentences, the reporting verb said is usually replaced with:

• asked
• inquired
• wanted to know

Why this change?

Because the sentence is a question, we must use a verb that reflects asking or questioning, not just speaking.

2. Retain the Wh-word

The Wh-word (what, where, when, why, how, etc.) is kept unchanged in indirect speech.

Do not replace it with if or whether (those are only for Yes/No questions).

Example:

• Direct: He said, “Where are you going?”
• Indirect: He asked where I was going.

The word where remains the same because it carries the main meaning of the question.

3. Change Question Form into Statement Form

This is the most important rule.

• Direct speech (question): Verb + Subject
• Indirect speech (statement): Subject + Verb

Example:

• Direct: “Where are you going?”
• Indirect: where I was going (not was I going)

The auxiliary verb shifts after the subject to form a normal statement structure.

4. Remove Question Marks

The question mark (?) is removed

The sentence becomes a normal declarative sentence

5. Change Tense, Pronouns, and Time/Place Expressions

Apply the general rules of reported speech:

Tense usually shifts one step back

Pronouns change according to speaker and listener

Time/place words may also change

Example:

• “now” → “then”
• “here” → “there”

Change of Direct to Indirect Speech for Wh-Questions with Examples

1. Questions with What

These ask about things or actions.

Examples:

• Direct: She said, “What are you doing?”
• Indirect: She asked what I was doing.

Explanation:

“What” is retained

“are you doing” → “I was doing” (statement order + tense change)

• Direct: He said, “What did you buy?”
• Indirect: He asked what I had bought.

Explanation:

Past simple (did buy) becomes past perfect (had bought)

2. Questions with Where

These ask about place or location.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “Where do you live?”
• Indirect: He asked where I lived.

Explanation:

“do you live” → “I lived” (auxiliary “do” removed)

• Direct: She said, “Where are they going?”
• Indirect: She asked where they were going.

Explanation:

Present continuous → past continuous

3. Questions with When

These ask about time.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “When will you leave?”
• Indirect: He asked when I would leave.

Explanation:

“will” changes to “would”

Structure becomes statement

• Direct: She said, “When did you arrive?”
• Indirect: She asked when I had arrived.

Explanation:

Past simple → past perfect

4. Questions with Why

These ask for reasons.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “Why are you crying?”
• Indirect: He asked why I was crying.

Explanation:

“are you crying” → “I was crying”

• Direct: She said, “Why did you miss class?”
• Indirect: She asked why I had missed class.

Explanation:

“did miss” → “had missed”

5. Questions with How

These ask about manner, condition, or method.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “How can you solve this problem?”
• Indirect: He asked how I could solve that problem.

Explanation:

“can” → “could”

“this” → “that”

• Direct: She said, “How are you feeling?”
• Indirect: She asked how I was feeling.

Explanation:

Present continuous → past continuous

6. Questions with Who, Whose, Which

These ask about people, possession, or choice.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “Who is knocking at the door?”
• Indirect: He asked who was knocking at the door.

Explanation:

“who” remains subject, so word order does not change much

• Direct: She said, “Whose book is this?”
• Indirect: She asked whose book that was.

Explanation:

“this” → “that”

Verb moves after subject

• Direct: He said, “Which color do you prefer?”
• Indirect: He asked which color I preferred.

Explanation:

“do you prefer” → “I preferred”

Special Note (Important Concept)

Sometimes, “who” acts as the subject of the sentence. In such cases:

We do not change the word order much

Example:

• Direct: “Who broke the window?”
• Indirect: He asked who had broken the window.

Here, who is already the subject, so no inversion correction is needed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using if/whether in Wh-questions
• Keeping question word order (e.g., where was I going)
• Forgetting tense changes
• Keeping the question mark (?)
• Not changing pronouns correctly

Final Summary

When converting Wh-questions into indirect speech:

• Use reporting verbs like asked, inquired, wanted to know
• Keep the Wh-word (what, where, why, etc.)
• Change the sentence into statement order (subject + verb)
• Remove the question mark
• Adjust tense, pronouns, and time/place expressions