question and Reporting verb

Wh- Question Clauses

Changing wh- questions to reported speech

reported speech = indirect speech = embedded speech

Quoted vs. Reported Questions

QUOTED WH-QUESTION		REPORTED WH-QUESTION
We restate quoted speech using the exact words. Quotation marks enclose the comment.		When we repeat a wh-question that someone has asked, we place the quoted words within another clause. (We subordinate the clause within a main clause.) The quoted question adjusts to the time and location of the main sentence. The pronoun, verb tense and adverbs adjust to the speaker's point of view. A subordinator such as who, what, where, when or how joins the reported speech.
MAIN CLAUSE My friend said,	QUOTED SPEECH "How are you?"	MAIN CLAUSE My friend asked	REPORTED SPEECH how I was (pronoun & tense adjustment)
My friend asked,	"Where have you been?"	My friend asked	where I had been. (pronoun & tense adjustment)
My friend asked,	"What have you been doing?"	My friend asked	what I had been doing. (pronoun & tense adjustment)
My friend asked,	"When are you coming here?"	My friend asked	when I was going there. (pronoun, tense & location adjustment)

Subordinating a Wh-Clause

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION	INDEPENDENT CLAUSE	SUBORDINATED QUESTION
1. Remove comma, quotes and question mark.	My friend said,	"How are you"?.
2. Change said to asked	My friend asked	"How are you".
3. Join the clauses using: how, who, whom, where, when,or why	My friend asked	how are you.
4. Adjust point of view of 1) pronoun to speaker's P.O.V.; 2) 2nd verb to time frame of 1st verb .		how was I.
5. Put the subject before the verb.	My friend asked	how I was.

Verb Tense Adjustment

QUESTION – VERB TENSE	EMBEDDED VERB TENSE
The verb tense in the noun clause adjusts (backshifts) to the point of view of the speaker. If the speaker is speaking in the past about an earlier past event, the past perfect may be used in the noun clause to emphasize the difference in time. Past perfect is not used if the time relationship is clear already.	An exception to this verb adjustment occurs when using a verb that expresses a general truth, something that exists, or is timeless, such as states of being , states of possession or mental states. In these cases, the verb remains in its present tense form.
PRESENT "How are you? "	PAST She asked how I was.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE "Where are you going?"	PAST PROGRESSIVE She asked where I was going.
PAST " Whom did you call?"	PAST PERFECT She asked whom I called / had called.
PAST PROGRESSIVE " Whom were you calling?"	PAST PROGRESSIVE She asked whom I was calling.
PRESENT PERFECT " Where have you been?"	PAST PERFECT She asked where I was / had been.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE " How have you been doing?"	PAST PROGRESSIVE OR PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE She asked how I was doing / had been doing.
PRESENT "How hot is the sun?" (general truth) COMPARE: "How hot is the weather today?" (at the moment) "What do you think?" (permanently) COMPARE: "What are you thinking?" (at the moment)	PRESENT OR PAST She asked how hot the sun is. (general truth) She asked how hot the weather was. (at the moment) She asked what I think. (permanently) She asked what I was/ *am thinking. (at the moment)

General Truth – The simple present tense is used to state fact, how things exist or behave. The verb in a noun clause stays in present tense to express mental states and attitudes such as —thinks, recognizes, understands — which are more permanent than what a person —is thinking,is recognizing, is understanding — which are more temporary and "at the moment". See Stative Verbs

Related pages: Same Time vs. Earlier Agreement | Formal vs. Informal Agreement

Ask Synonyms

SYNONYM	MEANING	SENTENCE
ask	request information or something	My neighbor asked who my gardener is. (general truth)
inquire	request information (formal)	Mr. Smith inquired how my family was.
question	settle doubt	My instructor questioned who had done my homework.

Also see: Said Synonyms

Subordinate Wh-Questions

Adding a personal comment

QUOTED WH-QUESTION	COMMENT WITH WH-QUESTION
In a WH-question, the question word becomes the pronoun that joins the clause to a main sentence.	The quote can be placed within a statement. The speaker restates the quote and adds a personal comment. The same tense, pronoun and adverb changes need to be applied.
"Where did he go?"	I don't know where he went. (Adjust verb to past tense.) Where he went is a mystery to me.
"How long were you there?"	I can't remember how long I was here. (Adjust adverb: there – here.) How long I was here is something I can't remember.
"Which way shall we turn?"	I have no idea which way we should turn. Which way we should turn is something I can't answer.
"What time is it?"	Can you tell me what time it is? What time it is, is a mystery to me.
"Where are you tonight?"	He couldn't tell me where he was that night. (Adjust adverb: tonight – that night.) Where he was that night was something he couldn't tell me.
"Who is she?"	Do you happen to know who she is. (Adjust adverb – there-here.) Who she is, is a question I can't answer.
"Why are you always late?"	She couldn't answer why she is always late. (Do not change verb tense for "general truth".) Why she is always late is a mystery to her.

Related page That/What Clauses | Adjusting perspective

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
The man asked what time is it. (This is a common error of native speakers as well)	The man asked what time it was.
She asked where are we going for lunch.	She asked where we were going for lunch. (asking plans) She asked where to go for lunch. (asking instructions)

Embedded Wh-Questions

Shortened to with an infinitive

Commenting on a Means or Method Question

REQUESTING INSTRUCTIONS	COMMENTING ON REQUEST
In a WH-question that asks means or method (instructions), should or could is commonly used.	The verb can be shortened to an infinitive (to + verb) in an embedded statement on means or method of doing something (instructions).
"Where should I go?"	I don't know where to go. I don't know where you should go.
"How do you use an encyclopedia?" method	I can't remember how to use an encyclopedia. I can't remember how I should use an encyclopedia.
"Which way shall we turn?"	I have no idea which way to turn. I have no idea which way we should turn.
"What time should we leave?"	Can you tell me what time to leave? Can you tell me what time we should leave?
"Where can I find a pharmacy?"	He couldn't tell me where to find a pharmacy. He couldn't tell me where I could find a phramacy.
"Who shall we invite?"	Let's decide who to invite. Let's decide who we should invite.
"Why should we be late?" (This question asks about plans.)	She couldn't answer why to be late. (This is not a statement of means or method.)

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Modal Verbs : speculation - may, might, must , can't

What are modals of speculation?
Modals of speculation are modal auxiliary verbs which express degrees of certainty. In other words, they describe a fact or situation that is definite, probable, possible, or impossible from the speaker's point of view. (As the speaker is speculating, he/she may be wrong.) Here we'll focus on speculating about present or future events. For example:

I may buy a new computer this summer, if I can afford it.
He might go back to school for his Master's Degree next year, but he hasn't decided yet.

What is the sentence structure?
The sentence structure is as follows:

subject | modal verb | (negation) | main verb | object/complement

He | must | (not) | be | very happy.
Sandy | may | (not) | study | abroad next fall.

The main verb is always in the plain form, even when the sentence expresses the future.

How are modals of speculation used?
Commonly used modals for present and future events include the following:
Must /will express a definite situation, and must not /will not /could not an impossible one. On the other hand, may /may not /might /might not /could aren't as clear. The conversation and intonation may subtly change the meaning. However, may /may not are more certain than might /might not /could, and these last three modals express a weak probability.

+ He must really enjoy life because he always has a smile on his face.
- He must not (mustn't) be very happy if he always has a frown.

+ If the US signs the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gases will significantly drop.
- Many industrialized countries will not (won't) stop polluting the environment!

+ Sandy may study abroad next fall, but only if she gets good grades this spring.
- If Sandy doesn't get good grades this spring, she may not study abroad next fall.

+ Although we might have cars that fly in 50 years, I doubt it.
- Gasoline-powered transportation might not exist in 50 years. We'll use electric cars.

+ I could vote for in the next election if one of the candidates interests me.
- Jim just loves President Bush. He could not (couldn't) ever vote for a Democrat.

Is there additional information on modals of speculation?
There are a few more important points to consider. First, modal verbs never take a third-person singular s, as in: If it snows this afternoon, Tim coulds be late. In addition, modal verbs are always followed by a verb in the plain or bare infinitive form, never to + verb. So the following sentence is wrong: Time could to be late. Lastly, the contraction of might not is mightn't. However, this is rarely used nowadays and should generally be avoided.

What are modals of speculation?
Modal auxiliary verbs express degrees of certainty. In other words, they describe a fact or situation that is definite, probable, possible, or impossible. However, despite the degree of certainty (or uncertainty), the speaker may be wrong. Here we'll focus on speculating about past events. For example:

A: Kelly must have gone somewhere tropical for vacation, because she's sunburned.
B: Actually, I she got some free tickets for a tanning salon. She didn't go anywhere last week.

What is the sentence structure?
The sentence structure is as follows:

subject | modal verb | (negation) | have | past participle | object/complement

Mary | must | (not) | have | done | well on the test.
Jennifer | could | (not) | have | made | as much money as she claims.

How are modals of speculation used?
Commonly used modals for past events include the following:

Must have expresses a definite situation, and must not have /could not have an impossible one. When we use may have /may not have, we aren't as certain. And when expressing weak probability, use might have /might not have /could have.

+ She must have gone somewhere tropical for vacation, because she's sunburned.
- She must not (mustn't) have enjoyed her weekend skiing, because she broke her leg!

+ Alex may have spent some time in Paris because he often talks about the city.
- Alex may not have enjoyed Paris, because he rarely says anything positive about the city.

+ The economy might have gotten worse without the tax cuts.
- The tech bubble might not have happened if people had invested more carefully.

+ Kerry could have won the 2004 election if he had responded to the attacks on his character.
- Gore could not (couldn't) have won the 2000 Presidential election.

Is there additional information on modals of speculation?
Yes, there is. When speculating about past events, the sentence must use have + past participle, such as: have seen / have done / have gone. However, the phrase or sentence which provides the reason need not be restricted to the present perfect tense. Kelly must have gone somewhere tropical for vacation, because she's sunburned. = She's sunburned now, which has made people think she went on vacation.

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