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: When will aliens conquer the Earth?
I: Can you tell me _______________ the Earth?
when aliens will conquer
future simple (will)
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: 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 the Government going to tell us the truth about UFOs?
I: I wonder ____________ the truth about UFOs...
...if the Government is going to tell us...
Future with "going to"
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: 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: Has NASA finished the inquiry ?
I: Can you tell me __________ the inquiry?
...if NASA has finished...
present perfect
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: Why are you still insisting that I read your paper?
I: I wonder why you are still insisting that I read your paper.
D: Should the USA have hidden all the evidence on extraterrestrial life?
I: I wonder ________________all the evidence on extraterrestrial life
...if the USA should have hidden ...
modal verb in the past (should have)
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: 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 aliens?
I: Can you tell me_________ after aliens?
... if we should go...
modal verb
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?