Easy Word | Luyện ngữ pháp


Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate (Unit 50: Questions 2)


Questions 2

A

Do you know where ... ? / I don't know why ... / Could you tell me what ... ? etc.

We say: Where has Tom gone?
but Do you know where Tom has gone? (not Do you know where has Tom gone?)

When the question (Where has Tom gone?) is part of a longer sentence (Do you know ... ? / I don't know ... / Can you tell me ... ? etc.), the word order changes. We say:
  • What time is it? but Do you know what time it is?
  • Who are those people? I don't know who those people are.
  • Where can I find Louise? Can you tell me where I can find Louise?
  • How much will it cost? Do you have any idea how much it will cost?

Be careful with do/does/did questions. We say:
  • What time does the film start? but Do you know what time the film starts? (not does the film start)
  • What do you mean? Please explain what you mean.
  • Why did she leave early? I wonder why she left early.

Use if or whether where there is no other question word (what, why etc.):
  • Did anybody see you? but Do you know if anybody saw you? or ... whether anybody saw you?
B

He asked me where ... (reported questions)

The same changes in word order happen in reported questions. Compare:
  • direct The police officer said to us 'Where are you going ?'
    reported The police officer asked us where we were going.
  • direct Clare said 'What time do the banks close ?'
    reported Clare wanted to know what time the banks closed.

In reported speech the verb usually changes to the past (were, closed etc.). See Unit 47.

Study these examples. You had an interview for a job and these were some of the questions the interviewer asked you:

Later you tell a friend what the interviewer asked you. You use reported speech:
  • She asked if (or whether) I was willing to travel.
  • She wanted to know what I did in my spare time.
  • She asked how long I had been working in my present job.
  • She asked why I had applied for the job. (or ... why I applied)
  • She wanted to know if (or whether) I could speak any other languages.
  • She asked if (or whether) I had a driving licence.
Exercises - 50.1


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