Basics. Reported Speech: Questions and Commands: correct answers
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When reporting questions and commands, we don't just repeat the exact words—we have to change the entire sentence structure. For commands, we use infinitives (e.g., He told me to wait or She warned me not to touch it). For questions, we drop auxiliary verbs like do or did, revert to standard subject-verb word order, and use if or whether for yes/no questions (e.g., She asked where I lived, not where did I live).
This challenge tests your ability to navigate these rules across a variety of fun scenarios. You will help a detective recount a bakery heist, a stressed-out chef manage a kitchen meltdown, and a farmer report a polite alien encounter. Along the way, you'll practice tense backshifting, choosing between positive and negative infinitives for commands, and fixing the tricky word order of reported Wh- and Yes/No questions.
You'll work through 12 questions in a varied mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are The police officer asked if I had seen anyone near the porch. and The mail carrier wanted to know whether the box was ticking.
When reporting Yes/No questions, we use if or whether. The sentence structure changes from a question format to a standard statement format (subject + verb), meaning we drop auxiliary verbs like "do/does/did" and do not invert the subject and verb.
"Did I touch..." and "if had I ordered..." are incorrect because they keep the inverted question word order.
Question 2
The correct answers are I had left and if I liked.
Reported Wh- Questions: We keep the question word (why) but change the word order to a normal statement (Subject + Verb). We also backshift the tense (past simple did leave becomes past perfect had left).
Reported Yes/No Questions: We use if or whether and apply the same statement word order (Subject + Verb). "Do you like alpacas?" becomes "if I liked alpacas."
Question 3
Help the nervous lab assistant document the eccentric inventor's experiment. Select the grammatically correct sentence.
The correct answer is The scientist asked whether the time machine would work in the rain.
When reporting a Yes/No question, we use if or whether. The word order changes to a standard statement (Subject + Verb), meaning the subject ("the time machine") comes before the verb. Additionally, the modal verb "will" backshifts to "would" in reported speech.
Question 4
The correct answers are the cows were and to show.
First blank: In reported questions, we do not use question word order. "Where are the cows?" changes to statement word order (Subject + Verb) and shifts back in tense: "where the cows were."
Second blank: For reported commands or instructions, we use the infinitive form: instruct + object + to + verb ("instructed me to show").
Question 5
Reconstruct the text message Sarah sent her best friend about her incredibly awkward first date. Drag the correct clauses to complete the story.
You won't believe this date! First, he actually asked me if I liked his collection of taxidermy toads. Then, when the bill arrived, he wanted to know whether I would pay for his meal!
First, he actually asked me if I liked his collection of taxidermy toads.
When reporting a Yes/No question, we use if or whether followed by statement word order (subject + verb). The original question "Do you like...?" backshifts to the past tense "liked."
Then, when the bill arrived, he wanted to know whether I would pay for his meal!
The direct question "Will you pay...?" becomes reported speech using whether (or if) + subject + backshifted verb ("would" instead of "will"). Question word order ("would I") is incorrect in reported speech.
Question 6
Complete the employee's warning message about the new workplace rules. Choose the correct phrase to fill in the blank.
The boss explicitly warned us ________ the office fern espresso, no matter how droopy it looks.
The correct answer is not to feed.
To report a negative command or request (e.g., "Don't feed the plant!"), we use a reporting verb (like warned, told, or asked) followed by an object ("us") and not to + infinitive ("not to feed").
Question 7
The correct answers are not to touch and to bring.
Reported Commands and Requests: We use the structure reporting verb + object + (not) to + infinitive.
- "Don't touch" becomes "not to touch."
- "Bring" becomes "to bring."
Question 8
Help the detective finish his official report about the great bakery heist by dragging the correct phrases into the blanks.
During the interrogation, I asked the suspect where he had hidden the stolen pastry. He refused to answer, so I then inquired why he was sweating so profusely if he was truly innocent.
During the interrogation, I asked the suspect where he had hidden the stolen pastry.
When reporting a Wh- question, we change the word order from question format (verb-subject) to statement format (subject-verb). We also backshift the tense from past simple ("did you hide") to past perfect ("had hidden").
He refused to answer, so I then inquired why he was sweating so profusely if he was truly innocent.
Similarly, "Why are you sweating?" becomes "why he was sweating." We drop the auxiliary "do/does/did" and use standard subject-verb word order without a question mark.
Question 9
The correct answers are: Chef Gordon ordered us to stop burning the risotto. He begged the pastry chef not to drop the wedding cake. He instructed the new guy to wash the dishes immediately.
To report commands and requests, we use a reporting verb (like told, ordered, begged, instructed) + an object + a to-infinitive (e.g., "to stop"). For negative commands, we use not to + infinitive (e.g., "not to drop").
"He told to the sous-chef..." is incorrect because "tell" takes a direct object without "to" (it should be "told the sous-chef"). "He commanded us that we don't..." is incorrect because commands require the infinitive structure, not a "that" clause with a present tense verb.
Question 10
Complete the stressed-out movie director's diary entry about today's disastrous filming session by dragging the correct options into the gaps.
I explicitly told the lead actor to stand on the red X painted on the floor. I also begged the background extras not to look directly into the camera, but they did it anyway!
I explicitly told the lead actor to stand on the red X painted on the floor.
To report a positive command or request, we use a reporting verb (like told, asked, or ordered) + object + the to-infinitive (to stand).
I also begged the background extras not to look directly into the camera, but they did it anyway!
To report a negative command ("Don't look!"), we place not immediately before the to-infinitive (not to look).
Question 11
The correct answers are The manager asked why I was wearing a pirate hat. and She inquired where I had hidden the company's mascot.
In reported Wh- questions, we keep the question word (who, what, where, why, how) but change the word order back to a normal statement (subject + verb).
"When would I..." and "how did I tame..." are incorrect because they incorrectly retain the inverted word order and auxiliary verbs used in direct questions.
Question 12
Help the accused roommate recount the morning's interrogation to a friend. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
The correct answer is She asked me where I had hidden her favorite mug.
When reporting a Wh- question (who, what, where, when, why, how), we keep the question word but change the word order to a standard statement (Subject + Verb). We also drop auxiliary verbs like do/does/did and shift the tense backward (from simple past "did you hide" to past perfect "had hidden").