Reported Content Questions

Level 3

Reported content questions allow you to embed a 'Wh-question' into a sentence. Unlike English, Polish does not require English-style word-order changes or automatic tense backshift, but requires a mandatory comma before the question word.

How It Works

In Polish, reported questions (indirect questions) are straightforward because they do not require the word-order changes or tense 'backshifting' common in English.

1. Word Order and Tense
In English, 'Where is he?' becomes 'I don't know where he is.' In Polish, the structure remains identical: Gdzie on jest? becomes Nie wiem, gdzie on jest. Polish does not require automatic English-style tense backshift after a past reporting verb. Keep the original time relation, or change the tense if you deliberately reframe the time of the report.

2. The Mandatory Comma
A comma is always required before the subordinate clause. This comma precedes the entire phrase, including any prepositions. For example: Nie wiem, o czym mówisz (I don't know what you are talking about).

3. Yes-Or-No Questions
When reporting a question that doesn't have a specific question word (like 'who' or 'where'), use the particle czy (meaning 'if' or 'whether'). For example: Pytam, czy jesteś głodny (I am asking if you are hungry).

4. Case and Agreement
The question word must be in the case required by the verb in the subordinate clause. Pronouns like kto or co change case (e.g., czego for the genitive). Adjectival question words like który, jaki, or czyj must also show adjective agreement in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

5. Common Head Verbs
These clauses usually follow verbs of communication or cognition, such as:

  • pytać (to ask)
  • wiedzieć (to know)
  • rozumieć (to understand)
  • mówić (to say/tell)
  • sprawdzać (to check)

Whether Is Czy: Use czy for an embedded yes-or-no question: Nie wiem, czy przyjdzie (I do not know whether he will come). Jeśli and jeżeli introduce conditions, not the reported-question meaning of English if.

The Reporter’s Perspective: Adjust person and place/time references when the viewpoint changes. Anna asks „Gdzie mieszkasz?”; I report Anna zapytała mnie, gdzie mieszkam. A later report of „Przyjdziesz tutaj jutro?” can be Zapytał, czy przyjdę tam następnego dnia. Keep tutaj or jutro when their original reference still fits the reporting situation; these shifts are not automatic word substitutions.

Examples (5)

  1. Zapytał mnie, dlaczego nie przyszedłeś na spotkanie.

    He asked me why you didn't come to the meeting.

    Word by Word: He-asked me, why not you-came onto meeting.

    Notice the comma before 'dlaczego'. The tense remains in the past because the original question was in the past.

  2. Czy możesz mi powiedzieć, która jest godzina?

    Can you tell me what time it is?

    Word by Word: Whether you-can me to-tell, which is hour?

    This uses 'która' (which) to ask for the time. The word order is the same as the direct question 'Która jest godzina?'

  3. Nie rozumiem, kogo oni szukają w tym lesie.

    I don't understand who they are looking for in this forest.

    Word by Word: Not I-understand, whom they look-for in this forest.

    'Kogo' is the genitive form of 'kto' because the verb 'szukać' (to look for) requires the genitive case.

  4. On wie, o czym myślisz.

    He knows what you are thinking about.

    Word by Word: He knows, about what you-think.

    'O czym' is in the locative case because the verb 'myśleć' (to think) requires 'o' + locative.

  5. Muszę sprawdzić, gdzie są moje klucze.

    I need to check where my keys are.

    Word by Word: I-must to-check, where are my keys.

    A simple locational reported question using 'gdzie'.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the comma before the question word.

    Nie wiem gdzie on mieszka.
    Nie wiem, gdzie on mieszka.

    In Polish, you must always place a comma before the word that starts the subordinate clause.

  • Using the past tense when the original question was in the present ('Where are you?').

    Different MeaningZapytał, gdzie byłem.
    Zapytał, gdzie jestem.

    Polish does not shift the tense after zapytał. If the original question was 'Where are you?', keep the present: Zapytał, gdzie jestem. Zapytał, gdzie byłem is a fine sentence, but it reports a different question: 'Where were you?'.

  • Using the wrong case for the question word.

    Nie wiem, co szukasz.
    Nie wiem, czego szukasz.

    The verb 'szukać' requires the genitive case, so 'co' must change to 'czego'.

How It Connects

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Reported Content QuestionsLevel 3

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Words in This Pattern

ktogdziegdziekiedykiedydlaczego