How do you report questions in the past in reported speech?

When reporting questions in the past in reported speech, there are a few key changes that need to be made. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to report questions in the past:

1. Change the tense: The tense of the reported speech needs to be changed to reflect that the original question was asked in the past. For example, if the original question was in the simple present tense, it should be changed to the simple past tense in reported speech.

2. Use an introductory verb: Begin the reported speech with an appropriate introductory verb such as "asked," "inquired," "wondered," or "wanted to know." This verb should be in the past tense to indicate that the question was asked in the past.

3. Change the pronouns and adverbs: Adjust the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new context. For example, if the original question used the pronoun "you," it should be changed to "he/she" or the appropriate third-person pronoun in reported speech.

4. Use the word "if" or "whether": If the original question was a yes/no question, introduce the reported speech with the word "if" or "whether." This helps to indicate that the question was a yes/no question.

5. Maintain the word order: Keep the word order of the reported speech the same as in the original question. For example, if the original question was "What is your name?" the reported speech should be "He/she asked me what my name was."

6. Use reporting verbs for specific question words: If the original question contained specific question words like "where," "when," "why," "how," or "who," use appropriate reporting verbs to report these question words. For example, "He/she asked me where I had been."

Overall, when reporting questions in the past, it is important to change the tense, use an introductory verb in the past tense, adjust pronouns and adverbs, use "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions, maintain word order, and use reporting verbs for specific question words. By following these steps, you can accurately report questions in the past in reported speech.