Spanish Reported Questions: Using 'asked if' and 'asked where'
Learn to report questions in Spanish using preguntó si and preguntó dónde, with examples and a dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Spanish, when you report a question, you don't repeat the exact words. Instead, you use a reporting verb like preguntar (to ask) followed by si (if) for yes/no questions or a question word like dónde (where) for information questions. This lesson teaches you to form sentences like 'Él preguntó si estaba listo' (He asked if I was ready) and 'Ella preguntó dónde vivía yo' (She asked where I lived). You'll learn the patterns, common mistakes, and practice with a dialogue.
By the end, you can…
- report yes/no questions using preguntó si + verb.
- report information questions using preguntó dónde + verb.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Él preguntó si estaba listo.
He asked if I was ready.
el preh-goon-TOH see ehs-TAH-bah LEES-toh
Reporting a yes/no question about readiness. Note: 'estaba' is imperfect past, indicating ongoing state.
Ella preguntó dónde vivía yo.
She asked where I lived.
EH-yah preh-goon-TOH DOHN-deh vee-VEE-ah yoh
Reporting a question about location. 'Vivía' is imperfect past for habitual action.
Ellos preguntaron si teníamos tiempo.
They asked if we had time.
EH-yohs preh-goon-TAH-rohn see teh-NEE-ah-mohs TYEHM-poh
Plural form 'preguntaron' for they. 'Teníamos' is imperfect past for 'we had'.
Mi jefe preguntó cuándo llegaría el paquete.
My boss asked when the package would arrive.
mee HEH-feh preh-goon-TOH KWAHN-doh yeh-gah-REE-ah el pah-KEH-teh
Reporting a question about future time. 'Llegaría' is conditional, showing future from past perspective.
La maestra preguntó si había terminado la tarea.
The teacher asked if I had finished the homework.
lah mah-EHS-trah preh-goon-TOH see ah-BEE-ah tehr-mee-NAH-doh lah tah-REH-ah
Reporting a yes/no question about completed action. 'Había terminado' is past perfect.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To report a yes/no question, use 'preguntó si' + verb in past tense. For example, direct question: '¿Estás listo?' (Are you ready?) becomes 'Él preguntó si estaba listo' (He asked if I was ready). For information questions, use 'preguntó' + question word (dónde, cuándo, cómo, etc.) + verb. Direct: '¿Dónde vives?' (Where do you live?) becomes 'Ella preguntó dónde vivía yo' (She asked where I lived). Note that the verb tense often shifts to past (imperfect or preterite) to match the reporting verb.
When to use it
Use these patterns when telling someone what another person asked. For example, if a friend asks '¿Tienes hambre?' (Are you hungry?), you can report: 'Mi amigo preguntó si tenía hambre' (My friend asked if I was hungry). If someone asks '¿Cuándo es la fiesta?' (When is the party?), report: 'Preguntó cuándo era la fiesta' (He asked when the party was). This is common in conversations, storytelling, and indirect communication.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Qué te preguntó el profesor?
What did the teacher ask you?keh teh preh-goon-TOH el proh-feh-SOHRÉl preguntó si había estudiado para el examen.
He asked if I had studied for the exam.el preh-goon-TOH see ah-BEE-ah ehs-too-DYAH-doh pah-rah el ehk-SAH-mehn¿Y también preguntó dónde?
And did he also ask where?ee tahm-BYEHN preh-goon-TOH DOHN-dehSí, preguntó dónde vivía yo.
Yes, he asked where I lived.see preh-goon-TOH DOHN-deh vee-VEE-ah yohA little context goes a long way
In Latin American Spanish, 'preguntar' is the standard verb for asking a question. In many regions, the 's' in 'si' is pronounced clearly, while in some coastal areas it may be aspirated or weakened, so 'si' can sound like 'hi'. The written form, however, remains 'si'. In Spain, 'preguntar' is used in the same way, though regional pronunciation of 's' and of past-tense endings varies. Note that 'preguntar si' is standard across the Spanish-speaking world; the variation is mainly phonetic, not grammatical.
One thing to watch for
Using 'que' instead of 'si' for yes/no questions, e.g., 'Preguntó que estaba listo'.
Try this instead: Use 'si' for yes/no questions: 'Preguntó si estaba listo' (He asked if I was ready). 'Que' is used to introduce statements, not yes/no questions.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Report this question: '¿Vas a venir?' (Are you going to come?) using 'Él preguntó...'
Show a sample answer
Él preguntó si iba a venir.
Use 'si' for yes/no questions and shift 'vas' to 'iba' (imperfect) to match past reporting.
2Report: '¿Dónde está el baño?' (Where is the bathroom?) using 'Ella preguntó...'
Show a sample answer
Ella preguntó dónde estaba el baño.
Use 'dónde' and shift 'está' to 'estaba' (imperfect) for past reporting.
3What is the difference between 'preguntó si' and 'preguntó dónde'?
Show a sample answer
'Preguntó si' is for yes/no questions, while 'preguntó dónde' is for questions about location.
'Si' introduces a yes/no question, and 'dónde' introduces a question about place.
To report questions in Spanish, use 'preguntó si' for yes/no questions and 'preguntó' + question word for information questions. Remember to adjust the verb tense to past.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Spanish into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr