Can you solve this problem he asked me change into indirect speech?

The indirect speech for "Can you solve this problem?" he asked me is He asked me if I could solve that problem.

Understanding Indirect Speech for Questions

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone else said without using their exact words. When converting direct speech that is a question into indirect speech, several grammatical changes are necessary to ensure accuracy and proper flow.

Specifically for 'yes/no' questions (questions that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'), we use specific conjunctions and adjust the sentence structure.

Key Transformation Rules

To accurately convert a direct question into indirect speech, follow these essential rules:

• Reporting Verb: The reporting verb usually changes from said to asked, enquired, wondered, etc., especially when the direct speech is a question. In our example, "he asked me" is already in the correct form.
• Conjunction: For 'yes/no' questions, use if or whether as the conjunction to introduce the reported question.
• Pronoun Changes: Adjust pronouns to reflect the new speaker's perspective. For instance, 'you' often changes to 'I' or 'he/she', depending on who 'you' refers to.
• Tense Backshift: The tense of the verb in the direct speech usually shifts back one step into the past.
  • Present simple becomes past simple.
  • Present continuous becomes past continuous.
  • Present perfect becomes past perfect.
  • Past simple becomes past perfect.
  • can becomes could.
  • will becomes would.
• Demonstrative/Time/Place Changes: Words indicating proximity in time or place (like 'this,' 'here,' 'now,' 'tomorrow') change to reflect a more distant perspective.
  • this becomes that.
  • these becomes those.
  • here becomes there.
  • now becomes then.
• Sentence Structure: The reported question changes from an interrogative (question) structure to an assertive (statement) structure. This means the subject comes before the verb, and there is no question mark at the end.

Step-by-Step Conversion of the Example

Let's apply these rules to the given sentence: "Can you solve this problem?" he asked me.

1. Identify the reporting clause and the direct question:

   • Reporting clause: "he asked me"
   • Direct question: "Can you solve this problem?" (a 'yes/no' question)

2. Use the reporting verb as is: "He asked me"

3. Add the appropriate conjunction: Since it's a 'yes/no' question, we use if.

   • He asked me if...

4. Change pronouns: The "you" in the direct question refers to "me" (the person being asked). So, "you" changes to "I".

   • He asked me if I...

5. Backshift the tense: The modal verb "can" is in the present tense. It needs to be backshifted to its past form, "could".

   • He asked me if I could solve...

6. Change demonstratives/adverbs of place/time: "this problem" changes to "that problem" to reflect the shift in time/reference.

   • He asked me if I could solve that problem.

7. Remove the question mark and adjust punctuation: The indirect speech is a statement, so it ends with a full stop.

Combining these steps, the exact answer is: He asked me if I could solve that problem.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When converting questions to indirect speech, certain errors frequently occur. Understanding these can help ensure accurate transformations:

• Not changing the tense: A common mistake is failing to backshift the verb tense.
  • Incorrect: He asked me if I can solve this problem. (The reference highlights this as an incorrect form.)
  • Correct: He asked me if I could solve that problem.
• Not changing demonstratives: Forgetting to convert words like 'this' to 'that' can lead to ambiguity.
  • Incorrect (partially): He asked me if I could solve this problem.
  • Correct: He asked me if I could solve that problem.
• Retaining the interrogative structure: The indirect question should be a statement, not a question.
  • Incorrect: He asked me can you solve this problem. (The reference highlights this as an incorrect form.)
  • Correct: He asked me if I could solve that problem. (Subject before verb)
• Using 'that' instead of 'if/whether' for 'yes/no' questions: 'That' is used for reported statements, not 'yes/no' questions.
  • Incorrect: He asked me that I could solve that problem.
  • Correct: He asked me if I could solve that problem.

By carefully following these rules and avoiding common pitfalls, you can accurately convert direct questions into indirect speech.