B2 Spanish grammar

Mood in Spanish Reported Questions

An indirect question does not automatically trigger the subjunctive. Its interrogative core normally uses the indicative; subjunctive appears only when another structure inside the question independently expresses a wish, request, unknown antecedent, or similar non-asserted meaning.

Reported question

preguntar + si/question word + indicative; apply subjunctive only for an independent trigger

Uncertainty in a question does not by itself select subjunctive.

Question, request, or deliberation

Meaning	Structure	Example
yes/no question	preguntar si + indicative	Preguntó si Ana venía.
information question	preguntar + question word + indicative	Preguntó cuándo empezaba.
request/instruction	pedir/decir que + subjunctive	Pidió que Ana viniera.
embedded trigger	question core + trigger que + subjunctive	Preguntó si era posible que adelantáramos la reunión.
deliberation	question word + deber/poder + infinitive	Preguntó qué debía hacer.

Identify the speech act before choosing mood.

Spanish reported questions mood: Keep ordinary indirect questions in the indicative

Use si or a question word followed by an indicative clause when reporting what information someone asked for, even though the answer was unknown.

Preguntó si había plazas y cuándo empezaba el curso.

She asked whether there were places and when the course started.Not knowing the answer does not by itself require subjunctive.

Quick check

He asked where the station was.

Apply independent mood triggers inside the question

A reported question can contain a second dependent clause. Choose that clause's mood from its own trigger, such as querer que, ser posible que, or an unidentified antecedent.

Preguntó si era posible que adelantáramos la reunión.

She asked whether it was possible for us to move the meeting forward.Era is indicative in the question core; adelantáramos is subjunctive after era posible que.

Distinguish a question, a request, and deliberation

Preguntar si asks for information; pedir que reports a requested action and takes subjunctive; preguntar qué debía hacer reports deliberation about the appropriate action.

Preguntó si Ana venía. Pidió que Ana viniera. Preguntó qué debía hacer.

He asked whether Ana was coming. He asked Ana to come. He asked what he should do.Similar English wording hides three different Spanish structures.

Common mistakes

Preguntó si hubiera plazas.

Preguntó si había plazas.

This is a normal request for factual information, so the interrogative core is indicative.

Preguntó si quería que enviamos el archivo.

Preguntó si quería que enviáramos el archivo.

Quería que independently triggers subjunctive in the embedded clause.

Preguntó que Ana viniera. (asked whether she was coming)

Preguntó si Ana venía.

A yes-or-no information question requires si; a subjunctive que clause would express a requested action with an appropriate reporting verb.

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Mood in reported questions FAQ

What does mood in reported questions cover?

What is the first rule to remember?

Use si or a question word followed by an indicative clause when reporting what information someone asked for, even though the answer was unknown.

What is another important B2 pattern?

A reported question can contain a second dependent clause. Choose that clause's mood from its own trigger, such as querer que, ser posible que, or an unidentified antecedent.

How can I practise Spanish reported questions mood?

Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.

Continue learning

Compound tenses in reported speechBackshift compound forms when the reporting viewpoint requires it while preserving completion, sequence, and continuing relevance.Time, place, and demonstrative shiftsRecalculate time, place, demonstratives, movement verbs, and personal reference from the reporter's actual viewpoint instead of applying automatic substitutions.Sustained indirect narrationMaintain source, tense sequence, reference, and paragraph cohesion across several reported statements without repetitive or ambiguous reporting frames.Spanish reported questionsReview si, question words, and statement-style order.Reported commands and requestsCompare information questions with requested actions.Mood in relative clausesReview the unknown-antecedent trigger that can occur inside a reported question.