§ 4. Indirect questions.

Word order in an indirect question is the same as in a statement. An indirect general question is introduced by the conjunction if or whether.

I said to her, «Have you lived here long?"

I asked her if she had lived there long. She asked If she knew him. (Bennett)

An indirect special question is introduced by the same adverb or pronoun that introduces a direct question.

1 said to her, 'Where do you live"?

I asked her where she lived. I asked her where she was going and where her friends were. (Ch. Bronte)

If a direct question to the subject contains the link verb to be, the direct order of words is not always strictly observed.

He asked, «Who is that man?"

He asked who the man was or who was the man

The direct question What is the matter? can be converted in two ways:

He asked what was the matter. or He asked what the matter was.

Indirect questions are generally introduced by the verb to ask. In more official style the verb to inquire is used.

She called at the office and said, " When does the secretary usually come?"

She called at the office and inquired when the secretary usually came.

If the person addressed is mentioned, the verb to inquire is used with the preposition of. This occurs in bookish style only.

She said to him, "Where does Mrs. Brown live?"

She inquired of him where Mrs. Brown lived.

In rendering answers the verbs to answer and to reply are generally used.

Occasionally, answers are rendered in the following way: His reply (answer) was that..., He said in reply ... This is not col­loquial.

Exercise 9. Put indirect questions to the sentences, using the model. Pay particular attention to the word order.

Model: How often do trains to Edinburgh run? Do you know? Do you know how often trains to Edinburgh run?

1. When does the 9.30 from King's Cross arrive? Do you know ...?

2. Is the 9.30 a very busy train? Can you find out ...?

3. Is it necessary to reserve a seat? Could you inquire for me ...?

4. What's the price of a first class ticket? Will you ask ...?

5. Does the 9.30 stop in Newcastle? I wonder ....

6. How long is a return ticket valid for? I'd like to know ... .

7. Which platform does the 9.30 leave from? Can you find out for me ...?

8- Do the trains usually arrive on time? Would you in­quire ...?

9. How much does a weekend-return to Edinburgh cost? ] wonder ....

10. When do the new train timetables come out? I'd like to know ....

11. Is there a 9.30 train on Sundays? I want to know ....

12. When does the next train for Edinburgh leave? I won­der ....

13. Half a million people pass through the station dail>. Could you tell me ... .

14. They usually spend Christmas in New York. Do you hap­pen to know ....

15. In Britain the bride usually arrives at the church with itt father. I wonder ....

If / When clauses (when I come ...,if he comes ..., as soon as she comes ... , before she comes ..., until she comes ..., etc.)

Exercise 10.

a)Report the following using reporting verbs in the Present Tense beginning with she says ...or she asks .... Then repro­duce the whole story in the reported speech.

One day Ben is at Aunt Ivy's house when the telephone rings. As Aunt Ivy is cooking lunch and can't leave the kitchen. Ben takes the call and tells Aunt Ivy what the caller says. It's Mrs Watkins from the grocery store.

Say what Ben reports, beginning with She says ... or She asks ...

Models: 1. Mrs Watkins: I'm ringing about the shopping list.

Ben: She says she's ringing about the shopping list.

2. Mrs Watkins: Does your aunt want ham or jam?

Ben: She asks whether you want ham or jam!

1. Does she want potatoes or tomatoes?

2. I've sold out of baked beans.

3. I don't know whether the list says a tin of pears or a tin of peas!

4. The chocolate biscuits have gone up 5p a packet. Does she still want them?

5. We haven't got any boxes of chocolates for less than £1!

6. I've only got Danish bacon today, but it's not smoked.

7. There aren't any special offers in cooking oil at the moment!

8. I haven't got any large bottles of gin. Does she want two small ones instead?

b)Report the following using the Past Tense in reported speech. Refer to ex. 1.

Aunt Ivy was too busy to listen exactly to what Ben was re­porting, so over lunch, she asked Ben again what Mrs Watkins had said on the telephone.

Say what Ben reports to Aunt Ivy, this time beginning with She said... or She asked... Models:

1. Aunt Ivy: What did she say she was ringing for?

Ben: She said she was ringing about your shopping list.

2. Aunt Ivy: What was that about the ham?

Ben: She asked whether you wanted ham or jam!

1. And did she say something about tomatoes?

2. And what was so difficult about the peas?

3. I heard that the chocolate biscuits have gone up again! What did she ask about them?

4. What did she say about my bacon?

5. And what about the oil?

6. Did she say something about gin? She ought to know I don't touch the stuff! Er ... What did she say about it, anyway?

c). Report the following using Future-in-the-Past in reported speech.

Bill is going to a firm's party again. Helen is afraid that he will do things he may regret! Here is their conversation before he goes.

Helen: And don't drink too much this time!

Bill: All right, Helen! I'll only drink a couple of beers. I promise!

Helen: And do think about your stomach! Go easy on the food!

Bill: I assure you that I won't eat too much, honestly!

Helen: And leave your cigarettes at home, or you'll be smoking too much!

Bill: I promise that I'll only smoke two or three. Helen: And for goodness' sake, don't start telling your jokes again!

Bill: There's nothing wrong with a good joke now and again! But if you insist, I won't tell them!

Helen: And be careful not to say anything tactless about the boss's wife, as you usually do!

Bill: OK, Г11 try not to!

Helen: And don't forget to behave yourself properly!

Bill: Of course I won't! I promise!

Helen: And don't come home too late!

Bill: No, I won't. I'll make sure that I'm on the last bus!

Helen: Well, good-bye then! Have a good time!

Model: What did Bill tell/promise/assure Helen that he would or would not do?

He promised Helen that he'd (he would) only drink a couple of beers. (Continue)

e). Report the following using Past Perfect in reported speech.

Here's the conversation between Bill and Helen at the breakfast table on the morning after the firm's party. Helen: Did you have a good time last night?

Bill: No, not particularly. It was rather boring.

Helen: Did you have a good meal?

Bill: I didn't eat as much as last time.

Helen: I hope you didn't smoke too heavily!

Bill: Oh, no! I only had two or three all evening!

Helen: I suppose you made up for it by drinking more!

Bill: Not at all! I didn't drink as much as Stan!

Helen: Were any of the wives there?

Bill: The wives weren't invited.

Helen: What time did you get home? I didn't hear you come in.

Bill: Oh, about half past eleven, I think.

Helen: I hope you didn't talk too much!

Bill: I didn't tell my jokes, if that's what you mean.

Helen: What time did Stan leave?

Bill: We both left at the same time.

Helen meets Stan by chance, and his version of the party is rather different! Helen tells Stan what Bill had told her. Give Helen's corresponding remarks to Stan from the above conver­sation. Beginning with He told me that... Model: Stan: Has Bill sobered up yet?

Helen: He told me that he hadn't drunk as much as you!

Exercise 11. Convert into indirect speech.

1. "Davis, Davis," he called, "what's the time? My watch has stopped." (Greens) 2. "Jebb," he said, "have you been in many caves? Are you a caver?" (Warren) 3. "When will Mr. Dodson be back, Sir?" inquired Mr. Pickwick. (Dickens) 4. "And have you anything else you want to explain to me, Denry?" said Mr. May-bold. "Nothing, Sir." (Hardy) 5. "What," said Dinny, when they were seated before an omelette Bulgarienne, "do you know about Professor Hallorsen, Uncle Adrian?" (Galsworthy) 6. At last she said: "Well, Uncle Adrian, will you try and think of any way of strafing that man for the scurvy way he's treated Hubert?" (Gals­worthy) 1. The first question on Marianne's side was, "How long has this been known to you, Elinor? Has he written to you?" "I have known it these four months." (Austen) 8. "Who is there?" he [Ar­thur] whispered. "It's me, Sir," answered a venerable voice. "Mrs. Newitt, the housekeeper. Is Mrs. Forrest ill?" "Mrs. Newitt," he said, "where is your master?" (Bennett) 9. "Who's that fellow?" said Lord Saxended... (Galsworthy) 10. "What are you doing humped that way on the ground? Do you think that is ladylike?" Mrs. Bingham said to her daughter. (Warren) 11. "Is there any­thing else on your mind, Erik?" Haviland asked. (Wilson) 12. "Tom," she [Maggie] said timidly when they were out of doors, "how much money did you give for your rabbits?" (Eliot) '3 Л- yed at Shropshire House Sir Lawrence said: "Can we see the Marquess Pommett?" "I rather think he's having his lesson, Sir Lawrence." (Galsworthy)

Exercise 12. Convert into indirect speech.

1. Не has just asked me, "Who will come to the cinema with me?" 2. He has just asked me, "Will you be at home to-night?" 3. He has just asked me, "Is it time to go?" 4. He asked me, "Where are you going?" 5. She asked me, "Does he always come so late?" 6. He asked her, "How did you do that?" 7. He asked me, "Is it raining?" 8. She asked him, "Have the children come from school?" 9 He asked, "How old are you?" 10. She asked me, "Why didn't you come here yester­day?" 11. He asked me, "Do you know how far it is to the station?" 12. He asked me, "Where are you going?" 13. She asked me, "How long have you been learning English?" 14. He asked her, "Did anybody call this morning?" 15. I asked him, "Can you meet me to-morrow?" 16. She asked me, "May I open the window?" 17. He asked her, "Why can't you answer this question at once?" 18. She asked me, "Would you like to see the garden?" 19. I asked him. "What will you do if you miss the train?" 20. He asked the manager, "At what price were the two cargoes of wheat sold yesterday?" 21. He asked me, "Do you think that the weather will change?" 22. He asked the buyer, "When do you want the goods to be shipped?" 23. I asked him, "Is it possible to charter a steamer for loading at the end of the month?" 24. I asked him, "When will you open the letter of credit?" 25. I asked him, "Can you guarantee that the machine will be delivered in September?" 26. I asked him, "When did you receive our telegram regarding the s.s. "Pskov"? 27. I asked him, "Can you find out how much overtime we shall have to pay if the vessel is discharged at night time?" 28. I asked him, "Have you found a boat suitable for the cargo we sold last week?" 29. He asked me, "Why did the buyers refuse to accept the cargo?"

Exercise 13 Translate into English.

1. Мы его спросили, где он купил словарь. 2. Он меня спро­сил, читала ли я Теккерея в оригинале или в переводе. 3. Она меня спросила, где я живу. 4. Я спросила сестру, почему она не хочет идти со мной в театр. 5. Я спросила, часто ли она хо­дит в филармонию. 6. Он спросил меня, видела ли я когда-нибудь его сестру. 7. Он спросил, где я работаю. 8. Она спросила, по­чему я отклонила это предложение. 9. Она спросила, когда при­ходила Нина. 10. Он спросил, люблю ли я драму.