Косвенные вопросы

Reported questions

Примечание: вопросы в косвенной речи называются косвенными (reported questions). От косвенных вопросов отличаются вопросы непрямые (indirect questions). Непрямые вопросы не обязательно передают содержание вопроса другого человека, но являются также распространённой формой запроса информации от первого лица. Например: I am wondering whether the rain is going to stop today. Как в косвенных, так и в непрямых вопросах в соответствии с академической нормой сохраняется прямой порядок слов. В разговорной речи допускается обратный порядок слов, грамматическая инверсия (выдвижение служебного глагола в начало вопросительного предложения): I want to know where my secretary is (академическая норма). — I want to know where's my secretary (разговорная речь).

— в косвенных вопросах вопросительный знак не ставится;

— порядок слов в косвенных вопросах всегда прямой: The stranger said, "How old are you?" — The stranger asked me how old I was;

— косвенные вопросы начинаются с глаголов ask, enquire, wonder, want to know, express one's interest: The mother said, "How could I have burnt my pudding?" — The mother wondered how she could have burnt her pudding;

— в косвенных вопросах с глаголами be, do, have, can, may, will, need, ought используются союзы if, whether: The guest said, "Can I wash my hands?" — The guest enquired whether / if she could wash her hands.

Read the sentences and choose their correct alternatives in reported speech

1. The detective said to my friend, "Where were you at midnight?"
   The detective [enquired where|expressed where] my friend [would be|was] at midnight.
2. The client said, "When will my parcel arrive?"
   The client [wanted to know when|explained when] her parcel [arrived|would arrive].
3. The journalists said to the film star, "What do you feel after the award ceremony?"
   The journalists [announced what|expressed their interest in what] the film star [was feeling|felt] after the award ceremony.
4. The passerby said to me, "Can you give me a hand?"
   The passerby [warned if|asked me if] I [would be able to give him|could give him] a hand.
5. The scientist was saying to herself, "Can this be true?"
   The scientist [was wondering if|was surprised if][that was|that would be] true.
6. When I saw the two girls, I said in surprise, "Are you twins?"
   When I saw the two girls, I asked in surprise whether they [would be|were] twins.
7. The reporter said, "What struck you as unusual yesterday's night?"
   The reporter wanted to know what [struck|would struck] me as unusual the night before.
8. The secretary said, "Have you got an appointment with the doctor?"
   The secretary enquired whether I [had got|would have] an appointment with the doctor.
9. The teacher said, "What are you talking about?"
   The teacher was wondering what I [am talking|was talking] about.
10. My friend said, "How do you feel after the flu?"
    My friend expressed his interest in how I [feel|felt] after the flu.