TRUE OR FALSE?
SOCIOLINGUISTIC:
We use indirect questions to sound more polite, or less blunt.
TRUE.
D: Is Moriarty a criminal?
I: Can you tell me if Moriarty is a criminal?
simple present
D: What time will Sherlock be meeting Watson?
I: Can you tell me what time Sherlock will be meeting Watson?
future continuous
Why is she unhappy?
Can you tell me ...
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: Why was Sherlock so afraid of Irene Adler?
I: Can you tell me why Sherlock was so afraid of Irene Adler?
simple past
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"
When is the restaurant closing?
Can you tell me ...
Can you tell me when the restaurant is closing?
Do you mind telling 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: Why haven't you read my paper yet, dear Watson?
I: Dear Watson, could you, please, enlighten me as to why you haven't yet read my paper?
present perfect
D: Will Lestrade have finished the inquiry by midnight?
I: Can you tell me if Lestrade will have finished the inquiry by midnight?
future perfect
Why was he late for the meeting?
I was wondering
I was wondering why he was late for the meeting.
I'd like to know 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: Why are you still insisting that I read your paper?
I: I wonder why you are still insisting that I read your paper.
D: Will Moriarty have been committing crimes for many other years?
I: I wonder if Moriarty will have been committing crimes for many other years.
future perfect continuous
What were you doing at 3pm?
I'd like to know ...
I'd like to know what you were doing at 3pm?
Have you got any idea 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: How long has Watson been working in this laboratory?
I: I would like to know how long Watson has been working in this laboratory.
Present perfect continuous
D: Should we go after Moriarty for the stabbing of Bolsonaro?
I: Can you tell me if we should go after Moriarty for the stabbing of Bolsonaro?
not a verb tense, modal verb
Where has Lucy been?
May I know...
May I know where Lucy has been?
Do you know how long he will have been studying French when he retires?
How long will he have been studying French when he retires?