Reported Speech: Questions and Commands
Reported questions and commands extend the backshift logic — with two structural twists. Yes/no questions are introduced by if or whether and shift to statement word order (“Are you available on Friday?” → She asked if I was available on Friday). Wh-questions keep the question word but also drop inversion (“Where do you work?” → He asked where I worked — not where did I work). Commands switch structure entirely, taking tell + object + (not) to + infinitive (“Submit your report by Friday.” → She told me to submit my report by Friday). Requests use ask in the same pattern (“Could you send me the figures?” → She asked me to send her the figures).
This worksheet drills B1–B2 reported questions and commands in workplace contexts — interview questions, manager directives, and professional requests.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- Grammar Box with reported yes/no questions (if/whether), reported wh-questions (no inversion), and the tell/ask + object + to-infinitive pattern for commands and requests
- Report-the-questions: convert eight direct interview questions into reported form
- Report-the-commands: rewrite six direct workplace commands and requests using tell or ask
- Error correction: spot wrong word order, missing if, and tell/ask mix-ups
- Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes on the no-inversion rule and the tell/ask split
Common mistakes addressed: inversion kept in reported questions (She asked where did I work), missing if in yes/no reports (She asked I was available), tell without an object (She told to submit the report), and missing not in negative commands (He told us share it with anyone).
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1–B2, in intermediate and upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Reported questions are a high-frequency transformation in Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Reading-Use of English. Part of the Reported Speech collection — the natural sibling is Reported Speech: Statements, which sets up the backshift table this worksheet extends.
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