An yes or no question expects yes or no as the answer. When we change an yes or no question from direct speech to indirect speech, we use the conjunction whether or if.

Study the example given below.

• He asked me, ‘Are you working here?’ (Direct speech)

• He asked me if/whether I was working there. (Indirect speech)

Change the following yes or no questions from direct speech to indirect speech.

1. People often ask, ‘Is there a God?’

2. ‘Were you present yesterday?’ the teacher asked the boy.

3. My uncle asked me, ‘Have you ever been to a zoo?’

4. The landlord asked the servant, ‘Did you collect my letters from the post office?’

5. Tom asked Ben, ‘Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?’

6. ‘Is anybody home?’ I asked the boy.

7. ‘May I go home?’ the girl asked.

8. ‘Did you meet Suman yesterday?’ she asked me.

9. ‘Will you buy my hair?’ Della asked Madam.

10. ‘Can’t you do this yourself?’ the man said to the boy.

11. ‘Did you bring your book?’ the girl said to me.

12. He asked the boy, ‘Is there anyone in the other room?’

Answers

1. People often ask whether there is a God.

2. The teacher asked the boy if / whether he had been present the previous day.

3. My uncle asked me if / whether I had ever been to a zoo.

4. The landlord asked the servant if he had collected his letters from the post office.

5. Tom asked Ben whether a boy got a chance to whitewash a fence every day.

6. I asked the boy if anybody was home.

7. The girl asked if/whether she might go home.

8. She asked me if I had met Suman the previous day?

9. Della asked Madam if /whether she would buy her hair.

10. The man asked the boy if/whether he couldn’t do that himself.

11. The girl asked me if/whether I had brought my book.

12. He asked the boy if /whether there was anyone in the other room.

See also

• Direct and indirect speech worksheet for class 7
• Direct and indirect speech worksheet for classes 7 and 8
• Changing yes/no questions from direct speech to indirect speech
• Reported speech worksheet for class 7
• Direct and indirect speech rules
• Direct and indirect speech worksheet for class 8
• Direct and indirect speech worksheet for class 10
• Direct and indirect speech worksheet for class 6