Reported Speech If in English: Rules and Examples

Reported speech with If in English is a key grammar point often found in exams and daily communication. This guide explains the rules for reporting Yes/No questions and conditional sentences, provides practical examples, and shares exercises to help you practice effectively.

I. What Is Reported Speech If in English?

Reported speech is used when we want to tell someone what another person said, but without quoting them directly. It often involves changes in pronouns, tenses, and word order, especially if the original statement was in the past.

The word "if" plays a special role in reported speech when:

Reporting Yes/No Questions Using "If"

When we report a question that can be answered with "yes" or "no" (known as a Yes/No question), we typically introduce the question using the word "if" or "whether".

Example:

• Direct: "Are you coming to class today?"
• Reported: She asked if I was coming to class that day.

In this case, "if" functions as a connector that turns the question into a statement.

Reporting Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences use "if" to describe a condition and a result. When reporting such sentences, we need to understand their type (1st, 2nd, or 3rd conditional) and apply appropriate tense backshifts.

Many English proficiency exams (such as TOEIC, B1 Preliminary, VSTEP…) include tasks on reported speech. Understanding how "if" is used:

• Helps you report information accurately
• Prepares you for grammar test questions
• Improves your communication in both academic and real-life conversations

Learning this structure enhances not just your grammar but also your listening and paraphrasing skills—essential areas for any English learner.

II. Grammar Rules for Reported Speech with If

When converting direct speech into reported (indirect) speech, especially when the sentence includes "if", there are two main grammar situations that learners need to understand:

1. Yes/No questions that use “if” or “whether” in reported form
2. Conditional sentences (if-clauses) that require tense changes when being reported

Both structures follow specific rules, particularly with tense backshifting, word order, and the use of connectors like "if" or "whether."

1. Reporting Yes/No Questions with "If" / "Whether"

Yes/No questions are questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. When reporting these questions in indirect speech, we don’t use the question form—instead, we turn them into statements introduced by if or whether.

Reported Yes/No questions follow this structure:

Subject + asked / wondered / wanted to know + if / whether + subject + verb (backshifted)

Key Grammar Rules

• The word order changes from question form to statement form.
• We remove question marks.
• We backshift the verb tense (if the reporting verb is in the past).
• The auxiliary verbs do/does/did are removed.
• "If" and "whether" are both acceptable, but "whether" is more formal or used when alternatives are mentioned ("whether... or not").

Examples of Reported Yes/No Questions

When to Use "If" vs. "Whether"

Both can often be used interchangeably, but:

• Use "whether" in more formal or written contexts
• Use "whether" when followed by “or not”
• Example: He asked whether she was coming or not.

2. Reporting Conditional Sentences (If-Clauses)

Conditional sentences—also known as if-clauses—describe a condition and its possible result. When these sentences are reported indirectly, the tenses usually change depending on the type of conditional used in the original direct speech.

There are three main types of conditionals, each requiring specific rules when transformed into reported speech.

Tense Changes in Reported Conditionals

When reporting speech that includes an if-clause, you often need to backshift the verb tenses if the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., He said, She told me).

Below is a summary of how the tense changes for each type of conditional:

Key Grammar Tips

• Only change the tense if the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., He said, She told me)
• In zero conditionals, no tense change is needed
• In third conditionals, the sentence may remain the same because it’s already in the past perfect
• Make sure to adjust pronouns, time expressions, and word order as needed

By understanding how to report conditional sentences correctly, learners can boost both their grammar accuracy and confidence—especially in writing, exams, or academic discussions.

III. Examples of Reported Speech If in English

Practicing reported speech with “if” helps you internalize grammar rules and improve your ability to transform sentences accurately—whether you’re preparing for exams or using English in real situations.

Below you'll find exercises to reinforce your understanding of:

• Yes/No questions using if/whether
• Conditional sentences (First, Second, and Third conditionals)

Exercises 1. Fill in the Blanks – Change into Reported Speech

Instructions: Rewrite the following direct sentences into reported speech using if or whether where appropriate.

1. "Do you need any help?"
   → She asked me ____________________________________________________.
2. "Will it rain tomorrow?"
   → He wanted to know ____________________________________________________.
3. "Have you finished the assignment?"
   → The teacher asked ____________________________________________________.
4. "Did she call you back?"
   → He asked ____________________________________________________.
5. "If it doesn't stop raining, the game will be canceled."
   → The coach said ____________________________________________________.

Exercises 2. Multiple Choice – Choose the Correct Reported Version

Instructions: Choose the correct reported speech sentence from the given options.

1. "Is she coming to class today?"
   a) He asked is she coming to class today.
   b) He asked if she was coming to class today.
   c) He asked whether is she coming today.
2. "Do you like English grammar?"
   a) She wanted to know whether I liked English grammar.
   b) She wants to know if I like English grammar.
   c) She wanted to know if do I like grammar.
3. "If the traffic is bad, we’ll be late."
   a) They said if the traffic is bad, they will be late.
   b) They said if the traffic had been bad, they would be late.
   c) They said if the traffic was bad, they would be late.
4. "Would you go if I asked you?"
   a) He asked would I go if he asked me.
   b) He asked me if I would go if he asked me.
   c) He asked me do I go if he asked me.
5. "Did you call him back?"
   a) She asked me if I had called him back.
   b) She asked me if had I called him back.
   c) She asked me do I call him back.

Exercises 3. Identify the Conditional Type and Rewrite

Instructions: Identify the type of conditional in each direct sentence (First/ Second/ Third), then rewrite it in reported speech.

1. "If we leave now, we will catch the train."
   → Type: __________
   → Reported: ____________________________________________________.
2. "If I had more time, I would visit my grandparents."
   → Type: __________
   → Reported: ____________________________________________________.
3. "If she had told me earlier, I would have helped her."
   → Type: __________
   → Reported: ____________________________________________________.
4. "If it rains, I won’t go to the park."
   → Type: __________
   → Reported: ____________________________________________________.
5. "If he studied harder, he would pass the test."
   → Type: __________
   → Reported: ____________________________________________________.

Answer

[prep_collapse_expand open_text="View more" close_text="Show less"]

[/prep_collapse_expand]

Above is the complete knowledge about reported speech If in English that PREP wanted to share with you. Keep following PREP to regularly update many other useful English knowledge!