Reporting questions indirectly

The idea

Use si for yes-or-no questions and an accented question word such as dónde for information questions. Adjust person and tense to the context.

Examples

• Marta preguntó si la biblioteca abría los domingos.Marta asked whether the library opened on Sundays.
• El guía quiso saber dónde habíamos dejado las bicicletas.The guide wanted to know where we had left the bicycles.
• No recuerdo quién me contó esa historia.I do not remember who told me that story.
• La enfermera preguntó cuándo había empezado el dolor.The nurse asked when the pain had started.
• Mis vecinos querían saber por qué cerraban el parque.My neighbours wanted to know why they were closing the park.
• El cocinero preguntó si quedaba suficiente arroz.The cook asked whether there was enough rice left.

Watch out

Do not write an accent on conditional si or omit the accent from interrogative qué, even in an indirect question.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form. Lucía preguntó ___ llegaba el tren. (cuándo / cuando)

   Show answer or example answer

   cuándo

   cuándo asks about the time of the train’s arrival.

2. Choose the correct form. El cliente preguntó ___ aceptaban tarjetas. (si / sí)

   Show answer or example answer

   si

   si introduces the customer’s yes-or-no question.

3. Choose the correct form. No sabíamos ___ había llamado. (quién / quien)

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   quién

   quién identifies the person who called.

Use it today

Choose the form that completes each reported question.