Sımple-and-complex-ındırect-questıons.pdf

English grammar

1. SIMPLE AND COMPLEX
INDIRECT QUESTIONS

2. Simple indirect questions use statement word order.
Indirect questions start with a phrase like,
'could you tell me...' or 'do you know...'. For example:
Direct question: Where is the bank?
Indirect question: Could you tell me where the bank is?

3. 'Yes / No' Questions
To make an indirect 'yes / no' question, we use 'if’ or ‘whether’
and the word order of a normal positive sentence.
Direct: Was he late for the meeting?
Indirect: Can you tell me if he was late for the meeting?

4. Direct: Does David live in London?
Indirect: Can you tell me if David lives in London?
Direct: Did Amanda call John yesterday?
Indirect: Can you tell me if Amanda called John yesterday?

5. 'Wh' Questions
In the same way as with reported 'wh' questions, we use the question word
and the word order of a normal positive sentence.
Direct: When is the restaurant closing?
Indirect: Can you tell me when the restaurant is closing?

6. Direct: How long has she been living here?
Indirect: Can you tell me how long she has been living here?
Direct: Why had she quit her job before she moved here?
Indirect: Can you tell me why she had quit her job before she moved here?

7. Simple indirect questions use statement word order
and begin with expressions such as;
I wonder, I’d like to know, or I can’t understand.
Why don’t they have more buses at rush hour? (question)
I wonder why they don’t have more buses at rush hour.
(indirect question)

8. Why is the guy here again?
I wonder why the guy is here again.
Why is it so hard to live in this city?
I wonder why it is so hard to live in this city.
Where does all this money go, exactly?
I can't understand where all this money goes, exactly.
Why is she calling me in the middle of the night?
I'd like to know why she is calling me in the middle of the night.

9. Complex indirect questions also use statement word order.
In addition, they begin or end with clauses or phrases with be.
Will I be able to get into the class?
My big concern is whether I’ll be able to get into the class.
How can anyone afford them?
How anyone can afford them is beyond me.

10. Complex indirect questions also use statement word order.
In addition, they begin or end with clauses or phrases with be.
Will I be able to get into the class?
My big concern is whether I’ll be able to get into the class.
How can anyone afford them?
How anyone can afford them is beyond me.

11. Where are we going to put all those things?
I guess the biggest problem here is where we are going to put all those things.
What are you gonna tell him?
Something you should really concentrate on is what you are gonna tell him.
Why did she have to do that?
If there is something I really can’t understand is why she had to do that.

12. What did she tell you before leaving?
Something I have always wanted to ask you is what she told you before
leaving.
What did she tell you before leaving?
What I don't get is what she told you before leaving.

13. VOCABULARY
Confused feelings: baffled, confused, mystified, stunned
Angry feelings: annoyed, enraged, frustrated, infuriated, insulted, irritated
Sad feelings: demoralized, depressed, discouraged, humiliated, saddened