TRUE OR FALSE?
VERB TENSE?
INDIRECT to direct
DIRECT TO INDIRECT
100

SOCIOLINGUISTIC:

We use indirect questions to sound more polite, or less blunt.

TRUE.

100

D: What time will Sherlock meet Watson?

I: Can you tell me what time Sherlock will meet Watson?

future simple

100

Can you tell me if she is unhappy?

is she unhappy?

100
Why did he go to the store?

Do you know why he went to the store?  

200

STRUCTURE-WISE

When it's a yes/no question, we remove the auxiliary verb and don't add anything.

FALSE.

We add "if"

200

D: Is Sherlock going to tell Lestrade what he believes?

I: I wonder if Sherlock is going to tell Lestrade what he believes...

Future with "going to"

200

Can you tell me when the restaurant is closing?

When is the restaurant closing?

200

Is she pregnant?

Do you know if he is pregnant?

300

When it's an open answer question, we remove the auxiliary verb and add "if"

FALSE

We don't add "if".

300

D: Did you do the homework??

I: Can you tell me if you did the homework? 

Simple past

300

Can you tell me why he was late for the meeting?

Why was he late for the meeting?

300

Where does she live?

I wonder where she lives.

400

In an indirect question, the verb comes after the subject.

TRUE

400

D: Was Morty playing videogames last night?

I: I wonder if Morty was playing videogames last night.

Past continuous

400

Can you tell me what you were doing at 3pm?

What were you doing at 3pm?

400

will you buy sushi?

Can you tell me if you will buy sushi?

500

Even though we remove the auxiliary verb and the verb is placed after the subject, we still keep the question mark in indirect questions.

IT DEPENDS!

500

D: Do you like to go to the beach?

I: Can you tell me if you like to go to the beach?

Simple present

500

I was wondering if you are ok.

Are you ok?

500

When have they been to California?

Do you know when they have been to California?

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