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). An indirect special question is introduced by the same adverb or pronoun that introduces a direct question. (I said to her, "Where do you live'? - I asked her where she lived). 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/who was the man). The direct question What is the matter? can be converted in two ways: He asked what was the matter. 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.

Indirect orders and requests.

An order or a request in indirect speech is expressed by an infinitive: She said to him, 'Open the window (do not open the window)’ - She told him to open the window (not to open the window)). The choice of the verb is determined by the character of the order (request). The verb most commonly used to introduce indirect orders is the verb to tell; the verb to order is frequently used, occasionally also the verb to command. (The officer said to the soldiers, Stop!’ –The officer commanded the soldiers to stop). The verb to request introduces rather a veiled order than a request. (The ticket collector said to the passenger, "Produce your ticket.' - The ticket collector requested the passenger to produce his ticket). Unemotional requests are usually introduced by the verb to ask. (He said to a passer-by, 'Will you show me the way to the theatre? - He asked a passer-by to show him the way to the theatre). The verb to beg introduces a request somewhat more emotional. (The child said to his mother, "Do take me to the circus!" - The child begged his mother to take him to the circus). Very often, however, it is used in the same meaning as the verb to ask, only it is more polite: (He said to the visitor, 'Will you walk in?" - He begged the visitor to walk in). Emotional (emphatic) requests are introduced by the verbs to implore, to entreat, to beseech. (Eliza said to the stranger, "Do save my child!" - Eliza implored the stranger to save her child). The verb to urge introduces a request made with great insistence. (The mother said to her son, "Do take care of yourself!" - The mother urged her son to take care of himself). As is seen from the above examples, in converting requests beginning with the emphatic do, we use the verbs to implore, to entreat, to beseech, to urge.