French Indirect Questions: Reporting with 'si' and 'où'
Learn to report yes/no questions with 'si' and information questions with 'où' in French, using the pattern 'Il m'a demandé si...' and 'Elle a demandé où...'.
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In French, when you report a question, you don't use 'que' like you do for statements. Instead, yes/no questions become 'si' clauses, and questions with 'où' keep 'où'. This lesson teaches you to say 'He asked if I was ready' and 'She asked where I lived' correctly. You'll learn the pattern 'demander si' and 'demander où', and how to adjust pronouns and tenses. We'll focus on elementary-level reporting in the present and passé composé.
By the end, you can…
- report a yes/no question using 'demander si'.
- report a question with 'où' using 'demander où'.
- change pronouns and verb tenses when reporting a question.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Il m'a demandé si j'étais prêt.
He asked me if I was ready.
eel ma duh-mahn-day see zheh-tay preh
Use 'si' for yes/no questions. 'm'' means 'me'. 'j'étais' is imperfect for past state.
Elle a demandé où j'habitais.
She asked where I lived.
ell a duh-mahn-day oo zha-bee-teh
Use 'où' for questions about place. 'habitais' is imperfect.
Je lui ai demandé s'il venait.
I asked him if he was coming.
zhuh lwee ay duh-mahn-day seel vuh-neh
'lui' means 'him/her' (indirect object). 's'il' = if he.
Nous avons demandé où était la gare.
We asked where the train station was.
noo za-vohn duh-mahn-day oo eh-tay la gar
'où était' = where was. Inversion in the reported clause is optional but common.
Ils ont demandé si nous pouvions venir.
They asked if we could come.
eel zohn duh-mahn-day see noo poo-veeohn vuh-neer
'pouvions' is imperfect of 'pouvoir'. 'si' introduces the yes/no question.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To report a question, use 'demander' + 'si' for yes/no questions, or 'demander' + question word (où, quand, comment, pourquoi) for information questions. Examples: 'Il demande si tu viens.' (He asks if you're coming.) 'Elle demande où tu vas.' (She asks where you're going.) Note that 'si' becomes 's'' before 'il' or 'ils': 'si il' → 's'il'. The reported clause uses normal word order, not inversion: 'où tu vas', not 'où vas-tu'.
When to use it
Use this pattern when you want to tell someone what another person asked. For yes/no questions, always use 'si' (not 'que'). For questions with 'où', 'quand', 'comment', 'pourquoi', keep the question word. Adjust pronouns and tenses as needed. In past context, the reported verb often goes to imperfect: 'Il a demandé si j'étais prêt.' In present context, use present: 'Il demande si je suis prêt.' This is standard in both France and Quebec, though informal speech may use 'si que' in some regions, which is nonstandard.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Qu'est-ce que Marie t'a demandé ?
What did Marie ask you?kess-kuh ma-ree ta duh-mahn-dayElle m'a demandé si j'étais libre ce soir.
She asked me if I was free tonight.ell ma duh-mahn-day see zheh-tay lee-bruh suh swarEt qu'est-ce que tu as répondu ?
And what did you answer?ay kess-kuh too ah ray-pohn-dooJ'ai dit que je ne savais pas, et elle a demandé où j'habitais.
I said I didn't know, and she asked where I lived.zhay dee kuh zhuh nuh sa-veh pah, ay ell a duh-mahn-day oo zha-bee-tehA little context goes a long way
In French, using 'si' for reported yes/no questions is obligatory in standard grammar. In informal spoken French, especially among younger speakers, you might hear 'si que' (e.g., 'Il a demandé si que je venais'), but this is considered nonstandard and is best avoided in writing and formal speech. In Quebec, the pattern is the same, though pronunciation may differ slightly.
One thing to watch for
Using 'que' instead of 'si' for yes/no questions: 'Il m'a demandé que j'étais prêt.'
Try this instead: Always use 'si' for yes/no questions: 'Il m'a demandé si j'étais prêt.' 'Que' is for statements, not questions.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Report this yes/no question: 'Tu es fatigué ?' → Il a demandé si...
Show a sample answer
Il a demandé si j'étais fatigué.
Use 'si' for yes/no. Change 'tu' to 'je' and present to imperfect for past reporting. 'Il a demandé si tu étais fatigué' is also correct if reporting about someone else.
2Report this information question: 'Où est la banque ?' → Elle a demandé...
Show a sample answer
Elle a demandé où était la banque.
Keep 'où'. In past, 'est' becomes 'était'. Word order: 'où était la banque' (no inversion needed).
3Choose the correct word: 'Il m'a demandé ___ je pouvais venir.' (si/que)
Show a sample answer
si
Because it's a yes/no question (Can you come?), use 'si'. 'Que' would be for a statement like 'Il m'a dit que je pouvais venir.'
For reported questions in French, use 'si' for yes/no and keep question words like 'où'. Adjust pronouns and tenses, and avoid 'que' for questions.
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