Reported questions in the past

Level 4

When reporting a question asked in the past (e.g., 'He asked if...'), French requires a 'backshift' in tenses. For example, a present tense question becomes the imparfait, and a future tense question becomes the conditionnel.

How It Works

This pattern is essential for la concordance des temps (sequence of tenses). When the main reporting verb (like demander or vouloir savoir) is in a past tense, the verb in the reported question must shift:

  • Présent → Imparfait: 'Où vas-tu ?' becomes 'Il a demandé où j'allais.'
  • Passé Composé → Plus-que-parfait: 'As-tu fini ?' becomes 'Il a demandé si j'avais fini.'
  • Futur Simple → Conditionnel présent: 'Viendras-tu ?' becomes 'Il a demandé si je viendrais.'

Key Rules:
1. No Inversion: Unlike direct questions, a pronoun subject never follows the verb (où j'allais, not où allais-je). A noun subject may follow the verb after où, quand, comment or combien (Je me demande où est Marie).
2. The 'Si' Rule: Use si for yes/no questions. Note that si contracts to s' before il or ils, but never before elle or on.
3. What?: The direct question 'Qu'est-ce que...' or 'Que...' transforms into ce que (object) or ce qui (subject).

Examples (4)

  1. Elle m'a demandé si j'avais déjà fini mon travail.

    She asked me if I had already finished my work.

    Word by Word: She me has asked if I had already finished my work.

    The direct question was 'As-tu fini ?' (Passé composé). In the past report, it shifts to the plus-que-parfait.

  2. Ils voulaient savoir ce que nous ferions le lendemain.

    They wanted to know what we would do the next day.

    Word by Word: They wanted to know that which we would do the next day.

    The direct question was 'Que ferez-vous ?' (Futur). It shifts to the conditionnel and 'que' becomes 'ce que'.

  3. Je me demandais pourquoi elle était si triste.

    I was wondering why she was so sad.

    Word by Word: I myself was wondering why she was so sad.

    The direct question was 'Pourquoi est-elle si triste ?' (Présent). It shifts to the imparfait.

  4. Il a demandé s'il pouvait nous aider.

    He asked if he could help us.

    Word by Word: He has asked if he could us to help.

    Note the contraction of 'si' + 'il' into 's'il'. The present 'peut' shifts to the imparfait 'pouvait'.

Common Mistakes

  • Inverting a pronoun subject in the reported clause.

    Il m'a demandé où allais-je.
    Il m'a demandé où j'allais.

    Indirect questions are statements about a question. A pronoun subject comes before the verb and is never inverted.

  • Using 'est-ce que' inside the reported question.

    Je ne savais pas est-ce qu'il venait.
    Je ne savais pas s'il venait.

    The phrase 'est-ce que' is never used in indirect speech. Use 'si' for yes/no questions instead.

  • Failing to contract 'si' before 'il'.

    Elle a demandé si il était là.
    Elle a demandé s'il était là.

    In French, 'si' must elide to 's'' specifically before the pronouns 'il' and 'ils'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Reported questions in the pastLevel 4

Learn This First

To report questions in the past, a learner must first understand how to transform direct questions into indirect ones using 'si' or interrogative words. Additionally, they must be familiar with the 'backshift' rules where tenses move one step into the past (e.g., present becomes imperfect, future becomes conditional) when the reporting verb is in a past tense.

Words in This Pattern