❓ Imagine you just watched a famous celebrity interview. How would you tell your friend what questions were asked and what the interviewer told the celebrity to do?
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Job interviews, doctor appointments, advice from friends, instructions from bosses... we report questions and commands EVERY DAY!
📺 The Viral Interview
Watch how this interview gets reported to someone who missed it...
🎬 Original Interview with Pop Star "Luna"
Interviewer: "Are you working on new music?"
Interviewer: "What inspired your latest song?"
Interviewer: "Tell us about your tour plans."
Interviewer: "Don't be shy - show us your new tattoo!"
⬇️ How do we REPORT this? ⬇️
👥 Friend telling another friend:
"The interviewer asked if Luna was working on new music."
"He asked whathad inspired her latest song."
"He told her to tell them about her tour plans."
"He told her not to be shy and to show them her new tattoo."
🤔 Notice the patterns? Yes/No → if/whetherWh- → same wordCommands → to + verb
📚 Three Types to Master
❓ Type 1: Yes/No Questions
Use:if or whether
Direct: "Are you married?"
Reported: She asked if/whether I was married.
🔤 Type 2: Wh- Questions
Use:same question word
Direct: "Where do you live?"
Reported: He asked where I lived.
📢 Type 3: Commands & Requests
Use:to + verb (positive) or not to + verb (negative)
Direct: "Close the door."
Reported: She told me to close the door.
Direct: "Don't be late!"
Reported: He told me not to be late.
Type
Direct
Reported
Yes/No
"Do you like pizza?"
He asked if I liked pizza.
Yes/No
"Have you finished?"
She asked whether I had finished.
Wh-
"What time is it?"
He asked what time it was.
Wh-
"Why are you crying?"
She asked why I was crying.
Command
"Sit down!"
He told me to sit down.
Request
"Please help me."
She asked me to help her.
⚠️ Important: Word Order Changes!
In reported questions, we use statement word order (subject + verb), NOT question word order!
❌ "He asked where was I going."
✅ "He asked where I was going."
❌ "She asked if did I like coffee."
✅ "She asked if I liked coffee."
🗣️ Quick Check: How would you report "Where did you buy that jacket?"
🗣️ 5 Essential Reporting Expressions
👆 Click each card to reveal details and practice!
1. "asked if/whether..." - Yes/No Questions
Formality: Neutral (all situations)
Use for reporting yes/no questions. "If" and "whether" are interchangeable, but "whether" is slightly more formal.
🔹 "She asked if I was coming to the party." 🔹 "He asked whether I had finished my homework." 🔹 "They asked if we wanted to join them."
NOW YOU TRY: Think of a yes/no question someone asked you recently. Report it: "[Person] asked if..."
2. "asked + wh-word..." - Information Questions
Formality: Neutral
Keep the same question word (what, where, when, why, how, who) but change to statement word order.
🔹 "She asked where I worked." (NOT: where did I work) 🔹 "He asked what time the movie started." 🔹 "They asked how long I had been waiting."
NOW YOU TRY: What question did someone ask you today? Report it: "[Person] asked [wh-word]..."
3. "told me to..." - Commands & Instructions
Formality: Neutral
Use for reporting orders, instructions, and strong requests. "Tell" implies authority or directness.
🔹 "My boss told me to finish the report by Friday." 🔹 "The doctor told me to take the medicine twice a day." 🔹 "My mom told me not to stay out too late."
NOW YOU TRY: What did someone tell you to do recently? Report it: "[Person] told me to..."
4. "asked me to..." - Polite Requests
Formality: Neutral to Polite
Use for reporting polite requests (when someone said "please" or asked nicely). Softer than "told."
🔹 "She asked me to help her with her bags." 🔹 "He asked me to call him back later." 🔹 "They asked us to keep the noise down."
NOW YOU TRY: Think of a polite request someone made. Report it: "[Person] asked me to..."
5. "wanted to know..." - Curious Questions
Formality: Informal to Neutral
A more conversational way to report questions. Shows the person was curious or interested. Works with both yes/no and wh- questions.
🔹 "She wanted to know if I was single." 😏 🔹 "He wanted to know where I had learned to cook." 🔹 "They wanted to know why I was leaving early."
NOW YOU TRY: What's something someone was curious about and asked you? "[Person] wanted to know..."
🎯 Interview Practice
🎤 Activity 1: The Job Interview
Click each interview question to mark it as "reported." Then report it to your teacher!
💼 HR Manager's Questions:
1. "Why do you want this job?"
→ Report: The manager asked...
2. "Have you worked in a team before?"
→ Report: She asked if...
3. "What are your greatest strengths?"
→ Report: He wanted to know...
4. "Can you start next Monday?"
→ Report: They asked whether...
5. "Please send us your references."
→ Report: She asked me to...
📋 Activity 2: Doctor's Orders
The doctor gave these instructions. Click to report them!
"Take this medicine twice a day."
"Don't eat anything spicy."
"Drink plenty of water."
"Come back in two weeks."
"Don't skip any doses."
"Get more sleep."
💌 Activity 3: Advice Column
Someone wrote to an advice column. Report the questions they asked!
"Dear Advisor,
I'm confused about my relationship. Is it normal to argue every day?How can I communicate better with my partner? My friends say I should break up, but should I listen to them? Also, what books do you recommend about relationships?
- Confused in Chicago"
Your turn: Report what "Confused in Chicago" asked!
🎲 Random Question Generator
Click to get random questions to report!
🎭 Role-Play: Report Back!
🎬 Choose Your Scenario
In each role-play, one person asks questions or gives commands. Then you report everything to a third person!
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After the Interview
Your friend just had a job interview. Ask what questions the interviewer asked and what they told them to do.
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Doctor's Visit
Your family member just saw the doctor. Ask what questions the doctor asked and what instructions they gave.
👮
Police Questions
You witnessed something and police asked you questions. Report to your friend what they asked and told you to do.
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The First Date
Your friend went on a first date. Ask what questions the other person asked. Report the conversation!
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Parent-Teacher Meeting
A parent just met with the teacher. Report what the teacher asked about and what they recommended.
🛂
Immigration Interview
You went through immigration. Report what questions the officer asked and what they told you to do.
👤 Your Role
The Reporter
👤 Teacher's Role
The Listener
🎯 Phrases to Use
For Questions:
"They asked if..."
"She asked what/where/when..."
"He wanted to know..."
"They wondered if..."
For Commands:
"She told me to..."
"He asked me to..."
"They ordered me to..."
"She warned me not to..."
⏱️ Timed Speaking Challenge
🏆 Choose Your Challenge
Select a challenge, set the timer, and speak continuously! Report as many questions and commands as you can!
🎤 Celebrity Interview Report
Imagine you just watched a celebrity interview. Report at least 5 questions the interviewer asked and 3 things they told the celebrity to do.
💼 My Worst Job Interview
Describe a real or imaginary terrible job interview. What embarrassing questions did they ask? What did they tell you to do?
👨👩👧 Advice from Family
Report all the advice your parents/grandparents have given you over the years. What questions did they ask about your life? What did they tell you to do (or not do)?
🔍 The Curious Stranger
You met someone very curious who asked you MANY personal questions. Report everything they asked and any requests they made.
3:00
💪 Goal: Report at least 8 questions and 4 commands in your speaking time!
✨ Lesson Review
🎉
You can now report questions and commands like a pro!
📝 What You Learned Today
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Yes/No Questions: Use if/whether + statement order
✓
Wh- Questions: Keep wh-word + change to statement order
✓
Commands: told/asked + person + to + verb
✓
Negative Commands: told + person + not to + verb
✓
Word Order: Always statement order in reported questions (subject + verb)
🏠 Homework Challenge
Watch a YouTube interview (5 minutes). Write 5 reported questions and 3 reported commands.
Ask 3 people questions today. Write a report: "[Person] asked if/what/where..."
Write about advice someone gave you (100 words): what they asked, what they told you to do.
🌟 Now you can report ANY conversation - interviews, advice, instructions, questions! Practice every day!
👀 Next Lesson Preview: Relative Clauses
In Lesson 22, you'll learn to give more information about people, places, and things: