7.4: Reported Yes/No Questions with If and Whether
- Page ID
- 273185
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Subordinate Yes/No-Questions(reported or indirect speech)
Restating a Question within a Clause
Quoted vs. Restated Questions
| QUOTED QUESTION | |
|---|---|
|
A quoted yes-no question begins with a main clause that includes the speaker and the verb say or ask, followed by a comma and the exact words of the quote, enclosed in quotation marks. The quoted speech may also be placed before the main clause: "Are you OK?," my friend asked. |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | YES-NO QUESTION |
|
My sister asked, |
"Are you coming with us?" |
|
My sister's friend asked, |
"Is your brother coming too?" |
|
My friends asked, |
"Can you drive us?' |
|
Joe asked, |
"Will you have enough gas?" |
|
My friend asked, |
"Do we have enough money for gas?" |
| REPORTED QUESTION | |
|---|---|
|
A reported yes-no question also begins with the main clause, but is followed by the content of the quote as it relates to the speaker in time, person, place, and direction, at the moment of speaking. A subordinator (marker) if or whether subordinates the reported speech to the main clause. |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | REPORTED SPEECH |
|
My sister asked |
if I was coming with them. |
| My sister's friend asked |
if my brother was coming too. |
|
My friends asked |
whether I could drive them. |
| Joe asked |
if I would have enough gas. |
|
My friend wanted to know |
whether we had enough money for gas. |
A yes-no question differs from a Wh-question. In a yes-no question, the quoted question begins with an auxiliary verb form such as is, are, am, do, does, has, have, can, will, must. The expected answer is either yes or no (+ or -).
In reported speech, no additional punctuation (quotation marks, comma, or question mark) is used. Related page Quotation Marks.
Related page If vs. Whether
Subordinate Question-clause
| QUOTED WH-QUESTION |
|---|
|
A question with a modal or auxiliary verb can be placed within a comment stating opinion. If or whether links the subordinate clause to the main clause. |
|
"Did he go?" |
|
"Were you there?" |
|
"Should we turn here?" |
|
"Is it time to go?" |
|
"Can you meet me tonight?" |
|
"Is she his girlfriend?" |
|
"Will you be late?" |
| COMMENT WITH YES/NO QUESTION |
|---|
|
The opinion or comment is placed first followed by the subordinated question clause which is adjusted to the perspective of the main clause. |
|
I don't know if he went. (go → went) |
|
I can't remember if I was here. (there → here.) |
|
I have no idea if we should turn here. |
|
Can you tell me if it is time to go? |
|
He couldn't tell me if he could meet me that night. (tonight → that night.) |
|
Do you happen to know if she is his girlfriend? (there → here) |
|
She couldn't answer if she would be late. |
¹Use whether not if in a stressed sentence position.
Related page That/What Clauses | Adjusting perspective
If or Whether Clause Patterns
| IF |
|---|
|
If is commonly used after a subject and predicate expressing doubt. (I don't know, who knows, can you tell me, I have no idea, etc.) Some formal usage limits if to use before a clause with a single option and a single situation. |
| WILL MY PHONE WORK HERE? |
|
I don't know if my cell phone will work here. |
|
I have no idea ~if my cell phone will work here or not. (informal) |
|
Do you know ~if my phone will work better inside or outside. (informal) |
|
Who knows ~if my phone will work better inside or outside. |
| WHETHER |
|---|
|
|
| WILL MY PHONE WORK HERE? |
|
I don't know whether my cell phone will work here. (single situation) I don't know whether my cell phone works here. (anytime) |
|
I have no idea whether my phone will work here or not. I have no idea whether or not my phone will work here. |
|
I'm unsure whether my cell phone will work better inside or outside. I don't have a clue whether he owns an Android or an Apple phone. |
Whether is also used after an expression of doubt and is preferred when expression two options (an alternative). Whether is not limited to a single situation; it is also used for a recurring situation.*not used / ~borderline or informal usage
Also see Yes/No Question Clauses (whether)
Subordinate Connectors – If vs. Whether
Understanding Differences in Usage
| IF |
|---|
|
In the following situations, speakers favor using if. |
| REPORTED SPEECH |
|
I asked them if they were leaving. |
| SLIGHTLY LESS FORMAL |
|
I asked him if he is going to visit. (informal context) |
| WHETHER |
|---|
|
In the following situations, speakers prefer using whether. |
| WORDS USED IN FORMAL CONTEXTS |
|
We inquired whether the president would attend the summit meeting. (investigate, explain, examine, study, decide, determine) |
| AFTER A PREPOSITION |
|
They asked about whether the President would attend the meeting. (look into) |
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR |
|---|
|
*Can you tell me is it a boy or a girl? |
|
*She asked me when we are coming or not. |
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They asked if we wanted to have dinner with them sometime. (Using if implies possibly never) |
| Solution |
|---|
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Can you tell me if it is a boy or a girl? |
|
She asked me whether we are coming or not. |
|
They asked when we wanted to have dinner with them sometime. (Using when means sometime in the future.) |
Page derived from Grammar Quizzes by Julie Sevastopoulos is licensed for use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International.