I didn’t know whether to believe him or not.
Simon wondered if he should make conversation.
She didn’t say whether he was still alive.
Here is a list of other verbs that can be used before if-clauses and whether-clauses:
consider
determine
discover
doubt
know
remember
say
see
tell
wonder
Note that know, remember, say, see, and tell are usually used in a negative or interrogative clause, or a clause with a modal.
All the verbs in the list, except wonder, can also be used with that-clauses: see paragraph 7.30. They can all also be used with clauses beginning with wh-words: see paragraph 7.38.
wh-questions
7.37 The other type of question is called a wh-question. These are questions in which someone asks for information about an event or situation. Wh-questions cannot be answered with yes or no.
When you report a wh-question, you use a wh-word at the beginning of the reported clause.
He asked where I was going.
She enquired why I was so late.
She started to ask what had happened, then decided against it.
I asked how they had got there so quickly.
I never thought to ask who put it there.
I asked why.
They enquired how.
For more information about wh-questions see paragraphs 5.21 to 5.34.
7.38 Other verbs can be used before clauses beginning with wh-words, because they refer to knowing, learning, or mentioning one of the circumstances of an event or situation.
She doesn’t know what we were talking about.
They couldn’t see how they would manage without her.
I wonder what’s happened.
Here is a list of other verbs that can be used before clauses beginning with wh-words:
decide
describe
determine
discover
discuss
explain
forget
guess
imagine
judge
know
learn
realize
remember
reveal
say
see
suggest
teach
tell
test
think
understand
wonder
Note that imagine, say, see, suggest, and think are usually used in a negative or interrogative clause, or a clause with a modal.
All the verbs in the list, except describe, discuss, and wonder, can also be used with that-clauses: see paragraph 7.30.
Reporting orders, requests, advice, and intentions
reporting requests
7.39 If someone orders, requests, or advises someone else to do something, this can be reported by using a to-infinitive after a reporting verb such as tell. The person being addressed, who is going to perform the action, is mentioned as the object of the reporting verb.
He told her to wait there for him.
He commanded his men to retreat
He ordered me to fetch the books.
My doctor advised me to see a neurologist.
For more on this type of structure, see paragraphs 3.202 and 3.206.
Here is a list of reporting verbs that can be used with a person as object followed by a to-infinitive:
advise
ask
beg
command
forbid
instruct
invite
order
persuade
remind
teach
tell
urge
warn
7.40 A few verbs can be used with a to-infinitive to report requests when the hearer is mentioned in a prepositional phrase.
An officer shouted to us to stop all the noise.
I pleaded with him to tell me.
Here is a list of these verbs and the prepositions used with them:
appeal to
plead with
shout at
shout to
whisper to
yell at
7.41 In ordinary conversation, requests are often put in the form of a question. For example, you might say Will you help me? instead of Help me. Similarly, reported requests often look like reported questions.
He asked me if I could lend him fifty dollars.
When you report a request like this, you can mention both the person receiving it and the person making it.
She asked me whether I would help her.
Alternatively, you can just mention the person making it.
He asked if I would answer some questions.
7.42 You can report a request in which someone asks for permission to do something by using a to-infinitive after ask or demand.
I asked to see the manager.
reporting suggestions
7.43 When someone makes a suggestion about what someone else (not their hearer) should do, you report it by using a that-clause. In British English, this clause often contains a modal, usually should.
He proposes that the Government should hold an inquiry.
Travel agents advise that people should change their money before they travel.
Note that this structure can also be used to report a suggestion about what the hearer should do. Consider the example: Her father had suggested that she ought to see a doctor; her father might have suggested it directly to her.
Someone suggested that they break into small groups.
Note that when you leave out the modal, the verb in the reported clause still has the form it would have if the modal were present. This verb form is called the subjunctive.
It was his doctor who advised that he change his job.
I suggested that he bring them all up to the house.
He urges that the restrictions be lifted.