Definition of reported question

When we report a question, we change the structure of the original question to turn it into a statement. This is because in a reported question, the speaker is not asking for an answer, but rather is conveying the gist of a question that someone else asked. In grammatical terms, a reported question is formed by changing the grammatical structure of the original question. Instead of using the interrogative form (i.e., inverting the subject and the verb), we use a reporting verb, such as "asked" or "wanted to know," followed by the reported question in the form of a statement. For example, the original direct question, "What time is the meeting today?" is transformed into a reported question, "She asked what time the meeting was taking place today." The concept of reported questions is important in many areas of language learning, such as summarizing and conveying information accurately in academic and professional settings. Being able to accurately report questions not only demonstrates understanding, but also shows that the speaker can communicate effectively despite not directly asking or answering the question.