TRUE OR FALSE?
SOCIOLINGUISTIC:
We use indirect questions to sound more polite, or less blunt.
TRUE.
D: Where’s the nearest bus stop?
I: Could you tell me...?
Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?
Indirect: I was wondering if you knew why they cancelled the concert.
Direct: Why did they cancel the concert?
Why is she unhappy?
Can you tell me why she is unhappy?
Can you tell me how long she has been living here?
How long has she been living here?
STRUCTURE-WISE
When it's a yes/no question, we remove the auxiliary verb and don't add anything.
FALSE.
We add "if"
D: How much does this book cost?
I: Do you know...?
Do you know how much this book costs?
Indirect: Could you tell me how long you’ve been living here?
Direct: How long have you been living here?
When is the restaurant closing?
Can you tell me when the restaurant is closing?
Can you tell me why she had quit her job before she moved here?
Why had she quit her job before she moved here?
When it's an open answer question, we remove the auxiliary verb and add "if"
FALSE
We don't add "if".
D: When does the train leave?
I: Can you tell me...?
Can you tell me when the train leaves?
Indirect: Do you happen to know what caused the delay at the airport?
Direct: What caused the delay at the airport?
Why was he late for the meeting?
Can you tell me why he was late for the meeting?
Can 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?
In an indirect question, the verb comes after the subject.
TRUE
D: Who is that man over there?
I: Do you happen to know...?
Do you happen to know who that man over there is?
Indirect: I’d like to know which university she wants to apply to.
Direct: Which university does she want to apply to?
What were you doing at 3pm?
Can you tell me what you were doing at 3pm?
Can you tell me what time Lisa will be meeting the boss?
What time will Lisa be meeting the boss?
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!
D: Why is she upset?
I: Could you explain...?
Could you explain why she is upset?
Indirect: Do you have any idea when the results will be announced?
Direct: When will the results be announced?
Where has Lucy been?
Can you tell me where Lucy has been?
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?