Reporting questions with question words
To relay a question that asks for specific information—like where, when, or who—use a reporting phrase like preguntar (to ask) or querer saber (to want to know), followed by the question word.
Just like in direct questions, these interrogative words always keep their written accents in reported speech (dónde, cuándo, quién, cuánto, cómo, cuál). Since it is a reported statement rather than a direct inquiry, drop the question marks.
| The client asks where tomorrow's event is. | El cliente pregunta dónde es el evento de mañana. |
| The boss (f.) wants to know who the photographer is today. | La jefa quiere saber quién es el fotógrafo hoy. |
| I need to know when the supplier arrives with the decoration. | Necesito saber cuándo llega el proveedor con la decoración. |
Questions with prepositions
If the original question pairs a preposition with the question word—such as a (at/to), de (from), or por (for)—keep that preposition right before the question word in your reported sentence.
| The lady asks at what time the event's banquet begins. | La señora pregunta a qué hora empieza el banquete del evento. |
| The client asks why the venue does not have a marquee. | El cliente pregunta por qué el local no tiene carpa. |
| The supplier asks where we get the decoration from. | La proveedora pregunta de dónde sacamos la decoración. |
Specifying who is being asked
As with regular statements, you can place an indirect object pronoun (such as nos) before the reporting verb to clarify exactly who is receiving the question.
| The planner asks us where the white marquee is. | El organizador nos pregunta dónde está la carpa blanca. |
| The musician asks us when the banquet is. | El músico nos pregunta cuándo es el banquete. |
