Indirect questions
True or False: We use indirect questions to sound more polite, or less blunt.
TRUE
IN REPORTED SPEECH, CHANGE "TODAY" TO...
THAT DAY
Correct the mistake:
I was upsettingly not able to attend the wedding.
I was, upsettingly, not able to attend the wedding.
The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.
DIRECT SPEECH TO REPORTED SPEECH
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON SATURDAY," HE ASKED HER.
SHE ASKED HER WHAT SHE WAS DOING ON SATURDAY.
Which country invented tea?
China
What galaxy do we live in?
the Milky Way
Turn it into an indirect question:
Why is she unhappy?
Do you know / can you tell me why she is unhappy?
IN REPORTED SPEECH, CHANGE "YESTERDAY" TO...
THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE DAY BEFORE
Correct the mistake:
Apparently 2012 was the UK’s wettest year on record.
Apparently, 2012 was the UK’s wettest year on record.
Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days.
Schools are ---- educating, not ---- entertaining.
Schools are FOR educating, not FOR entertaining.
IN REPORTED SPEECH, CHANGE "MAY" TO...
MIGHT
IN REPORTED SPEECH, CHANGE "NOW" TO...
THEN
Which country has played in every World Cup?
Bazil
Turn it into an indirect question:
What were you doing at 3 pm?
Can you tell me what you were doing at 3 pm?
TRUE OR FALSE:
IN DIRECT SPEECH THE TENSES USUALLY GO ONE STEP BACK INTO THE PAST.
FALSE
Hopefully, I'll be able to go on holiday this summer!
Hopefully/surprisingly/happily, I'll be able to go on holiday this summer!
Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
Every one of those books is fiction.
I'm going to say only a few words ----- take too much of your time.
I'm going to say only a few words IN ORDER NOT TO / SO AS NOT TO take too much of your time.
Which mammal has no vocal cords?
Giraffe
IN REPORTED SPEECH, CHANGE "THREE DAYS AGO" TO...
THREE DAYS BEFORE
What natural disaster is measured by the Richter scale?
Earthquake
Turn it into a direct question:
Could you tell me how long she had been living here when she met you?
How long had she been living here when she met you?
REPORTED SPEECH TO DIRECT SPEECH:
HIS TEACHER TOLD HIM TO DO HIS HOMEWORK ON TIME IF HE WANTED TO GET A GOOD GRADE.
"DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON TIME IF YOU WANT TO GET A GOOD GRADE", HIS TEACHER SAID.
Correct the mistake:
Surprising, I felt tired.
Surprisingly, I felt tired.
The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
The dog or the cats are outside.
Turn it into a direct question:
Can you tell me what time Lisa will be meeting the boss?
What time will Lisa be meeting the boss?
The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
The players, as well as the captain, want to win.
The human body has this many ribs.
24
Turn it into a direct question:
Can you tell me how long he will have been studying French when he retires?
How long will he have been studying French when he retires?
DIRECT SPEECH TO REPORTED SPEECH:
"DON'T SMOKE HERE" I TOLD ANN.
I TOLD ANN NOT TO SMOKE THERE.
Rephrase the statement using an adverb of opinion:
I heard that there aren't any more white rhinos left in the wild but I'm not completely sure if this is the truth.
Apparently, there aren't any more white rhinos left in the wild.
The elderly (is/are) protected.
The elderly are protected.
Peter is learning English. He wants to study in an English-speaking country next year. (SO THAT)
Peter is learning English so that he can study in an English-speaking country next year.
You should practice linking words. It will develop your English skills. (FOR)
You should practice linking words for developing your English skills.
What do bees collect and use to create honey?
Nectar
What is the largest bird in the world?
Ostrich