"I asked him what the problem was?" vs "I asked him what was the problem?"

Question

"I asked him what the problem was?" vs "I asked him what was the problem?"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. The first phrase 'I asked him what the problem was?' is more commonly used in everyday conversation. The second phrase 'I asked him what was the problem?' is also correct but may sound a bit more formal or old-fashioned.

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

This phrase is used to ask about a specific problem that was previously mentioned or is known to both the speaker and the listener.

Examples:

I asked him what the problem was, but he didn't want to talk about it.
She asked me what the problem was with the computer.

Alternatives:

I asked him what the problem was.
I inquired about what the problem was.
I wanted to know what the problem was.
I questioned him about the problem.
I was curious about what the problem was.

This phrase is also used to ask about a specific problem, but it may sound more formal or old-fashioned compared to the first phrase.

Examples:

I asked him what was the problem, and he explained it to me.
She asked the teacher what was the problem with the assignment.

Alternatives:

I asked him what the problem was.
I inquired about what the problem was.
I wanted to know what the problem was.
I questioned him about the problem.
I was curious about what the problem was.

Answer 1

I asked him what the problem was?

This phrase is correct and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Answer 2

I asked him what was the problem?

This phrase is correct but may sound a bit more formal or old-fashioned.

"I asked him what the problem was?" vs "I asked him what was the problem?"

I asked him what the problem was?

I asked him what was the problem?

Related Comparisons