In Verbs^x, Indirect speech^x

According to Radford (Transformational Grammar):Direct speech: "Will I get a degree?" John wondered.Indirect speech: John wondered whether he would get a degree.Semi-indirect speech: John wondered would he get a degree.(Semi-indirect speech is so called because it shares features of...

Yes, you are absolutely right! It is indeed indirect speech (I realized it later after reading more) and then we don't use auxiliary "do" in indirect questions.But I found this to be a tricky one. Yes, I have Swan's book but he doesn't mention that we can use auxiliary do...

If we try and use the same approach:- DIRECT: Why do I have two cars?- INDIRECT: You may wonder why I have two cars. (NOT ... why do I have two cars.)

Hello Dawnstorm,The terminology is not happy, admittedly; "middle voice" and "ergative" belong to other linguistic contexts, as has been mentioned; but I think it can be disentangled. It may be the case that "ergative" usage was once much more common in English....

Thanks, Clive.I have another sentence written as indirect speech that I wish to verify: 'I said that so do I'. Do you think I can write so or should I write 'I said that I do so'? In case of affirmative sentences like 'So do I', written as indirect speech do I have to...

Hello. Sorry to hear you're feeling uncomfortable with this type of activity. But you're not alone: I would be, too!The sentences lack context, which makes it difficult to tell when tense changes are necessary and when they are not (among other things).There is one sentence that is wrong...

My take: Indirect speech structure. You tell us what others told. So, using past, "was", is okay but you can use "is " too if the condition or situation is still true and valid or if a lot of time has not passed after what has been told.

1) You are late because you missed the bus, aren't/didn't you?? 2) When you arrive home, you will call me, do/will you?? Should a question tag always follow the verb of the main clause or it can follow the verb of a subordinate clause?? And is it possible to convert the tags into indirect...

Jackson6612 wrote:But there must a tangible reason for doing this. Saying that the verb has/have has to be changed to had to be consistent with announced is not a solid reason for using had left instead of have left in that sentence.Actually direct and indirect speech is not a difficult subject...

Jackson6612 wrote:Direct Narration: On 15 February 1989, the Soviet Union announced, ''All its troops have left Afghanistan.'' Indirect Narration: On 15 February 1989, the Soviet Union announced that all its troops had left Afghanistan. Please explain in simple terms that why couldn't have...