English grammar
Reported yes/no questions: he asked me whether I'd seen it
Report the yes/no questions someone asked you, such as in a police statement.
From the scene He asked me whether I'd seen it
In short
Report a yes/no question with if or whether and statement order, no do. Can becomes could.
Your turn
Which one goes with yes/no question: if?
Options: whether I'd seen it all · if I had my identity card on me · if I could identify him
Show answer
yes/no question: if → if I could identify him
How it works
Like other reported questions, a yes/no question uses statement order with no do or did, and it starts with if or whether.
Good to know
After asked, the tense usually moves one step back: 'Did you see it all?' becomes he asked me whether I'd seen it all.
Good to know
Can becomes could: he asked me if he could keep it.
yes/no question: whether whether I'd seen it all
Elena
Fine. An officer asked me whether I'd seen it all and if I could identify him.
Bien. Un oficial me preguntó si lo había visto todo y si podía identificarlo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Fine. An officer asked me (blank) and if I could identify him.
Options: if I had my identity card on me · if he could keep it · whether I'd seen it all
Show answer
Elena
Fine. An officer asked me whether I'd seen it all and if I could identify him.
Bien. Un oficial me preguntó si lo había visto todo y si podía identificarlo.
yes/no question: if if I could identify him
Elena
Fine. An officer asked me whether I'd seen it all and if I could identify him.
Bien. Un oficial me preguntó si lo había visto todo y si podía identificarlo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Fine. An officer asked me whether I'd seen it all and (blank).
Options: if I had my identity card on me · if he could keep it · if I could identify him
Show answer
Elena
Fine. An officer asked me whether I'd seen it all and if I could identify him.
Bien. Un oficial me preguntó si lo había visto todo y si podía identificarlo.
statement order, no do if I had my identity card on me
Elena
The officer even asked me if I had my identity card on me. As if I were the criminal!
La autoridad incluso me preguntó si llevaba el carné de identidad. ¡Como si yo fuera la criminal!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
The officer even asked me (blank). As if I were the criminal!
Options: if I could identify him · if I had my identity card on me · whether I'd seen it all
Show answer
Elena
The officer even asked me if I had my identity card on me. As if I were the criminal!
La autoridad incluso me preguntó si llevaba el carné de identidad. ¡Como si yo fuera la criminal!
can moves back to could if he could keep it
Elena
He asked me if he could keep it. I told him no: I needed it for the next thief.
Me preguntó si podía quedárselo. Le dije que no: lo necesitaba para el próximo ladrón.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
He asked me (blank). I told him no: I needed it for the next thief.
Options: if he could keep it · whether I'd seen it all · if I could identify him
Show answer
Elena
He asked me if he could keep it. I told him no: I needed it for the next thief.
Me preguntó si podía quedárselo. Le dije que no: lo necesitaba para el próximo ladrón.
question word, statement order how much money I had on me
Ramón
He asked me how much money I had on me. I told him: nothing.
A mí me preguntó cuánto dinero llevaba. Le dije: nada.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
He asked me (blank). I told him: nothing.
Options: if I could identify him · how much money I had on me · whether I'd seen it all
Show answer
Ramón
He asked me how much money I had on me. I told him: nothing.
A mí me preguntó cuánto dinero llevaba. Le dije: nada.
Common mistake
Not that or did here. A yes/no question.
Fine. An officer asked me whether I'd seen it all and if I could identify him.
Bien. Un oficial me preguntó si lo había visto todo y si podía identificarlo.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| yes/no question: whether | whether I'd seen it all |
|---|---|
| yes/no question: if | if I could identify him |
| statement order, no do | if I had my identity card on me |
| can moves back to could | if he could keep it |
| question word, statement order | how much money I had on me |
More lines from the story
- ElenaThey arrested the thief. But the accused accused me of a violent attack.Al ladrón lo detuvieron. Pero el acusado me acusó de un ataque violento.
- NuriaDoña Elena! How did your statement as a witness go?¡Doña Elena! ¿Qué tal su declaración como testigo?