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Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Reported speech: Questions.
Hi Teachers,
When reporting questions, 'say' and 'ask' can be used without distinction?
Examples:
"Where is your motorbike?" the old lady asked / said.
The old lady asked (him) where his motorbike was.
The old lady told him where his motorbike was.
"Did you knock?" the old lady asked / said.
The old lady asked (him) if he had knocked.
The old lady told him if he had knocked.
Are my examples correct?
Thanks in advance
When reporting questions, 'say' and 'ask' can be used without distinction?
Examples:
"Where is your motorbike?" the old lady asked / said.
The old lady asked (him) where his motorbike was.
The old lady told him where his motorbike was.
"Did you knock?" the old lady asked / said.
The old lady asked (him) if he had knocked.
The old lady told him if he had knocked.
Are my examples correct?
Thanks in advance
Top answer
) is involved as in statements #1 & 4 above. The meanings of #2 & #3 are different. In #2, she doesn't know where the motorbike is.
- ) is involved as in statements #1 & 4 above.
- The meanings of #2 & #3 are different.
- In #2, she doesn't know where the motorbike is.
- In #3, she does.
- In #5, she doesn't know if he had knocked.
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9 Answers
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I am more used to seeing "asked" used when a question (?) is involved as in statements #1 & 4 above.
The meanings of #2 & #3 are different. In #2, she doesn't know where the motorbike is. In #3, she does.
In #5, she doesn't know if he had knocked. #6 does not make sense (or is written incorrectly......the "if" should be omitted and then is like #3).
The meanings of #2 & #3 are different. In #2, she doesn't know where the motorbike is. In #3, she does.
In #5, she doesn't know if he had knocked. #6 does not make sense (or is written incorrectly......the "if" should be omitted and then is like #3).
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I would reserve say and said for quoting a statement.
I would use ask and asked for quoting a question.
I believe that you can technically get away with using say for questions, but your readers will find it easier to use the correct inflections if you keep say and ask separate.
The old lady asked, "Where have you been?"
The old lady said, "You were not here."
I would use ask and asked for quoting a question.
I believe that you can technically get away with using say for questions, but your readers will find it easier to use the correct inflections if you keep say and ask separate.
The old lady asked, "Where have you been?"
The old lady said, "You were not here."
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Thinking SpainThe old lady told him if he had knocked.The above sentence is the only one that is grammatically wrong. You could say: The old lady told him that he had knocked, but I'm not sure there are many situations in which it would make sense. A person usually knowswhether he has knocked or not!
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Hi Anonymous,
Thank you very much for your reply. I should have written the numbers. Next time I will.
Bes
Thank you very much for your reply. I should have written the numbers. Next time I will.
Bes
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Hi Anonymous,
Thank you very much for your reply. I should have written the numbers. Next time I will.
Bes
Thank you very much for your reply. I should have written the numbers. Next time I will.
Bes
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Hi cayuse,
Thank you for you reply. I'll follow your advice, 'but your readers will find it easier to use the correct inflections if you keep say and ask separate.'
Best regards
TS
Thank you for you reply. I'll follow your advice, 'but your readers will find it easier to use the correct inflections if you keep say and ask separate.'
Best regards
TS
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Hi Cool Breeze,
Thank you for your tips and reply too.
I'm not sure there are many situations in which it would make sense. A person usually knows whether he has knocked or not!
You are right there are not many situations, except if the lady is deaf!
Thank you for your tips and reply too.
I'm not sure there are many situations in which it would make sense. A person usually knows whether he has knocked or not!
You are right there are not many situations, except if the lady is deaf!
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TS
Just to clarify on this last one.
"Did you knock?" the old lady asked / said.
The old lady asked (him) if he had knocked.
The old lady told him if he had knocked.
The first two are correct. If it is not a direct quote as in the last two, you can never ever say/told followed by what should obviously be a question.
The reason yo
Just to clarify on this last one.
"Did you knock?" the old lady asked / said.
The old lady asked (him) if he had knocked.
The old lady told him if he had knocked.
The first two are correct. If it is not a direct quote as in the last two, you can never ever say/told followed by what should obviously be a question.
The reason yo
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Hi cayuse
Thank you once again. It is really clear. Point taken!
TS
Thank you once again. It is really clear. Point taken!
TS
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