Page 282 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

- DIRECT: When are you leaving?
INDIRECT: He wanted to know when I was leaving. (NOT ••• ltIherl fJJtl;S {
lettfJif'lg. )
- DIRECT: What do 1 need?
IN DI RECT: She asked what she needed. (NOT ••• what did she fleeti:)
- DIRECT: Where are the President and his wife staying?
INDIRECT: I asked where the President and his wife were staying. (NOT '¥here ftlt!rt! staying . ..)
The same structure is used for reporting the answers to questions.
I knew how they felt. (NOT ••• ltBW did #iey feel.)
Nobody told me why I had to sign the paper. (NOT ••. why did {Mt:Je tB
sign-...)
2 no question marks
Question marks are not used in reported questions.
We asked where the money was. (NOT .•• 1tIhet'e the l/1B1ley Wt.fS?)
3 yes/no questions: He asked if ...
Yes/no questions are reported with ifor whether (for the difference, see 621). The driver asked iflwhether I wanted the town centre.
1 don't know iflwhether I can help you.
In reported questions, we do not use a present tense after ifto talk about the future.
I'm not sure ifI'll see her tomorrow. (NOT ••• if:see her tBIUBFfflW.)
4 say and tell: answers, not questions
Say and tell are not used to report questions.
(NOT The drit:Jer said whether': wtmteti the tBftIfI eefltf'e.)
But say and tell can introduce the answers to questions.
Please say whether you want the town centre.
He never says where he's going. I told her what time it was.
For the difference between say and cell. see 504.
277 indirect speech (4): infinitives 1 He promised to write
Speech relating to actions (e.g. promises, agreements, orders, offers, requests, advice and suggestions) is often reported with infinitives.
He promised to write. She agreed to wait for me.
Ann has offered to baby-sit tonight.
Object + infinitive is common with ask, advise, tell and order (but not with promise or offer).
I told Andrew to be careful.
The landlady has asked us to be quiet after nine o'clock. I advise you to think again before you decide.
The policeman told me not to park there.
indirect speech (4): infinitives 277
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