Indirect questions.

What for?
To sound more polite.
To beat about the bush (andarse con rodeos :P)

Common expressions used to "ask":

I wonder if...

I would like to know...

I don't know...

I'm not sure....

I don't remember...

Can/ could you tell me...?

Do you know...?

Do you have any idea...?

Do you happen to know...?

Word order
If we do not begin a question directly, but begin it with something like: Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder if...? the word order is the same as in an affirmative statement (subject + verb).

Example:
Direct question: What is he doing? Indirect question: Do you know what he is doing?
Direct question: Where have they been? Indirect question: I wonder where they have been?

Do, does, did
If the direct question contains do, does or did, we omit it in the indirect question.
Example:
Direct question: What do you want? Indirect question: Can you tell me what you want?
Direct question: When did she leave? Indirect question: Do you know when she left?

Yes/no questions
In yes / no questions, we use if or whether and we have to change the word order.
Example:
Direct question: Have you seen my dog? Indirect question: Could you tell me if you have seen my dog?

Exercises:
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/312.html
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.inqu.i.htm
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit11/hwy_int_unit11_1/
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.inqu.p.htm

Reported speech

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech.
Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech.
The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

• Tenses (backshift): "Marco lives in the South", she told me. = She told me (that) Marco lived in the South.
• Pronouns. "I like chocolate", she said. = SHE said she liked chocolate.
• Place and time expressions: "We will wait for you here, tomorrow", they said. = They said they would wait for me there, the following day.
  

More info about reported statements: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/statements


Questions
When transforming questions, remeber that you have to:

• Transform the question into an indirect question: “Why do you study English?" = He asked me why I studied English.
• Use the interrogative (wh- word) or in case of yes/ no questions use if / whether: “Do you speak English?” = He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Exercises on reported statements:

http://a4esl.org/q/h/9901/tm-reported1.html

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?03

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?04

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_reported1.htm

http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/reported1.htm

http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/indirect1.html

Exercises on reported questions:

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.repqu.i.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?05

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?06

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/reported_speech/questions.htm

More practice:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/absolutenglish-972/notes/pandorabot/askmybot.html

A native speaker of English, however, will often use reporting verbs other than just say, tell and ask. Compare the following:

"I didn't do it!"
He said that he hadn't done it.
He denied that he had done it OR He denied doing it.

"I'll bring the book back tomorrow."
She said that she would bring the book back the following day.
She promised to bring the book back the following day.

"Please will you think about it some more?"
He asked me if I would think about it some more.
He begged me to think about it some more.

"First you should put the money in the slot and then you should press the button."
She said that I should first put the money in the slot and then press the button.
She explained what I should do.


DIFFERENT VERBS TO REPORT
We use reporting verbs to report what someone said more accurately than using 'say' and 'tell'.

verb + infinitive
agree
decide
offer
promise
refuse
threaten

They agreed to meet on Friday.
He refused to take his coat off.

verb + (^.^) + infinitive
advise
encourage
invite
remind
warn

Tom advised me to go home early.
She reminded me to telephone my mother.

verb + gerund
deny
recommend
suggest
They recommended taking the bus.
She suggested meeting a little earlier.

verb + (^.^) + preposition (+ gerund)
accuse someone of
blame someone for
congratulate someone on

He accused me of taking the money.
They congratulated me on passing all my exams.
My brother blamed me for the accident.

verb + preposition + gerund
apologize for
insist on

They apologized for not coming.
He insisted on having dinner.

verb + (that SVC)
admit
agree
decide
deny
explain
insist
promise
recommend
suggest

Sarah decided (that) the house needed cleaning.
They recommended (that) we take the bus.

Exercises on reporting verbs:
http://www.us.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit12/hwy_int_unit12_2/
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.report3.i.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.report2.p.htm

More practice:
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/reported_speech_quiz_1.shtml

TAG QUESTIONS

YOU SPEAK ENGLISH, DON'T YOU?

A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question.
This structure is often used in Spoken English.

INTONATION

WHEN THE QUESTION GOES UP (a real question)
We use it for confirmation. It means something like: "Am I right?" or "Do you agree?"

WHEN THE QUESTION GOES DOWN.
We use it for making conversation, encouraging someone to carry on talking. We mean: "Talk to me".

Here are some mixed examples:

• But you don't really love her, do you?
• This will work, won't it?
• Well, I couldn't help it, could I?
• But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you?
• We'd never have known, would we?
• The weather's bad, isn't it?
• You won't be late, will you?
• Nobody knows, do they?

The basic structure is:

+ Positive statement,	- negative tag?
Snow is white,	isn't it?
- Negative statement,	+ positive tag?
You don't like me,	do you?

Grammar lesson in You tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pttjfRa2Udw

Exercises:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pttjfRa2Udw
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/questiontags2.htm

More info and exercises in different tenses:
http://english-zone.com/index.php?ID=110

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS vs PRESENT PERFECT

Think of this situation.

Jessica Viviana says:

"I'm an English Teacher. I started to teach English in 2007. That means, I have been teaching English for two years. I have taught 10 different levels."

In this example we are talking about a fact that started in the past (teach English in 2007) and continues up to the present and it is possible that it continues in the future (because that's Jessica's career).

Now, some questions:
1) How long has Jessica been teaching? She has been teaching for two years.
2) How many levels has she taught? She has taught 10 different levels.

In the first question we focus on the TIME, THE DURATION. We answer the question: HOW LONG...?

The grammar tense used to answer this question is called: present perfect continuous.
It is formed:

Affirmative: Subject + has/have + been + verb(ing) + complement.
She has been teaching English for 2 years.

Negative: Subject + hasn't/haven't + been + verb(ing) + complement.
We haven't been eating fat food since we are on a diet.

Question: (Wh- word) + has/ have + subject + been + verb (ing) + complement.
What sport have you been practising recently?

Note: You can use any Wh- word (where, who, what, why) except from: When/How much/ How many...
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-progressive-2
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-progressive/exercises

In the first question we focus on the QUANTITY/ THE RESULT. We answer the question: HOW MANY...? OR HOW MUCH...?
The grammar tense used to answer this question is called: present perfect.

It is formed:
Affirmative: Subject + has/have + verb (past participle) + complement.
She has taught 10 different levels.

Negative: Subject + hasn't/haven't + verb (past participle) + complement.
We haven't done anything.

Question: (Wh- word) + has/ have + subject + verb (past participle) + complement.
How many sports have you practised recently?

Note: You can use any Wh- word (where, who, what, why) except from: When/How long...
We don't use WHEN in the questions, because WHEN ask and answer for a specific time in the past. Therefore, for this question/ answer it is used simple past. Example: When did she start to teach English? She started in 2007.

Use of: for /since.
Because we are talking about actions that started in the past and they are still in progress, we generally use time expressions to express when the action started.
For the present perfect and present perfect continuous we use FOR + a period of time and SINCE +specific date when the action started.
Example:
She has been teaching English since 2007. = She has been teaching English for two years. (now is 2009)

http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/since_or_for.shtml
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_for-since_quiz.htm

Present perfect continuous (have/has been doing) vs present perfect (has/ have done)

Emphasis on time vs Emphasis on result
I have been working all night.
I have worked on the project and it is already finished.

Duration vs Quantity
I have been studying French since I was in elementary school.
I have studied French in 5 different schools.

Emphasis on the action vs Emphasis on the result
I have been watching videos to improve my English.
I have improved my Listening-

Verbs of action vs Stative verbs
I have been dating my boyfriend for 2 months. (Here the verb is: date -- a verb of action)
I have been with my boyfriend for 2 months. (Here the verb is: be -- a stative verb)

Other stative verbs: understand, want, love, hate, have (possesion).

Exercises. Present perfect or continuous?
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises

http://www.aulafacil.com/Ingejerc/Lecciones/Ejerc21.htm


TASK

Talking about a collection...

Do you collect anything?
When did you start to collect it?
How long have you been collecting it?
How many items have you collected?

If you don't collect anything... you can talk about a hobby...

Guessing and making hypothesis

Read this link as an intro: http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blmodalprob.htm

When we aren't 100% of something we want to say about a situation we guess or make hypothesis.

To express it, we use this 'Guessing pyramid':

M U S T ( 99% probable) +
C A N (85%)
M A Y (50%)
M I G H T
COULD (10%) -

CAN'T (100% NO WAY!!!)

GUESSES or PROBABILITIES ABOUT PRESENT SITUATIONS

For example:

I am waiting for Julie with another friend, David. I ask: 'Where is Julie?' David guesses:

She must be on the bus. (I'm almost sure this is a good guess) She could be lost.
She may be in the wrong room.
She can’t be at home. (I'm almost sure this isn't possible)

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit09/hwy_int_unit09_1/

GUESSES or PROBABILITIES ABOUT SITUATIONS HAPPENING NOW

For example:
I am waiting for Julie with another friend, David. I ask: Why hasn't Julie arrived? What is she doing?' David guesses:

She must be coming by bus. (I'm almost sure this is a good guess)
She could be working at her office.
She may be eating with her family.
She can’t be partying with other friends! (I'm almost sure this isn't possible)

GUESSES or PROBABILITIES ABOUT PAST SITUATIONS

For example:

You: Where was Julie last night? David guesses:

She must have forgotten about our date.
She might have worked late.
She could have taken the wrong bus.
She may have felt ill.
She can’t have stayed at home.

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit09/hwy_int_unit09_2/

Exercises:
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal4.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal7.htm

TASK

Your English Teacher hasn't come to give classes this week. You went to ask in the coordination but they don't know any information.

What might have happened to her?
Where might she be?
What might she be doing?