Reported Questions

Level 5

A question inside a sentence: question word plus the subjunctive.

How It Works

Direct questionReported question
Quid facis?Rogo quid facias.
Ubi est Marcus?Nescio ubi sit Marcus.
Venitne Iulia?Rogo num Iulia veniat.

A yes or no question becomes a reported question with num (whether) or -ne.

A reported question is a noun clause, the thing that is asked or known. It follows verbs such as rogo, quaero, nescio and dic.

Late and Church Latin often keep the indicative in a reported question. The Vulgate has non enim sciunt quid faciunt (for they do not know what they are doing, Luke 23:34). Classical Latin and school exams ask for the subjunctive.

Examples (5)

  1. Rogo quid facias.

    I ask what you are doing.

    Quid is the question word, and facias is the present subjunctive after the present rogo.

  2. Nescio ubi sit Marcus.

    I do not know where Marcus is.

    Sit is the present subjunctive of sum in a reported question.

  3. Iulia nescit quis ianuam aperuerit.

    Iulia does not know who opened the door.

    Aperuerit is the perfect subjunctive: the opening came before the main verb nescit.

  4. Dic mihi quo vadas.

    Tell me where you are going.

    Quo is where to, and vadas is the present subjunctive of vado.

  5. Sacerdos rogat quis ad missam venerit.

    The priest asks who has come to Mass.

    Venerit is the perfect subjunctive, and ad missam means to Mass.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the verb of a reported question in the indicative, as English does.

    Nescio ubi est Marcus.
    Nescio ubi sit Marcus.

    Classical Latin puts the verb of a reported question in the subjunctive: sit. Church Latin sometimes keeps the indicative, as the Vulgate does, but school and classical Latin ask for sit.

How It Connects

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Reported QuestionsLevel 5

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A reported question starts with a question word and takes the subjunctive.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

num-ne