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

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

Avoiding repetition.

Hi Guys!

To avoid repetition in many languages, it is common for words to be missed out (ellipsis or omission) or substituted by other words: pronouns, synonyms.

We use these resources to make comments in conversations and avoid repeating info that has just been given or to shorten our speech when the meaning is clear without saying the complete sentence. Examples:

OMISSIONS

A) I can run long distances without getting tired.
B) You can't (run long distances...),,can you (run long distances...)?

A) Are you going to the match?
B) I'd like to (go)

SUBSTITUTIONS

My father works for a foreign company. He likes his job.

A) I bought my English book in American Bookstore in Polanco.

B) I bought mine in the FESI bookshop.

SYNONYMS

A) Sorry, I haven't got time to talk now.

B) Perhaps we can have a chat later on.

Check this link to have some practice!

http://www.llas.ac.uk/materialsbank/mb061/8.11/index.htm