Mastering Indirect Questions, Time Expressions, and Passive Voice

Indirect Questions (IF without Interrogation)

Direct: How many offices does your company have?

Indirect: Can you tell me how many offices your company has?

Direct: Who is the marketing manager?

Indirect: I'd like to know who the marketing manager is.

Direct: Where did you buy your laptop?

Indirect: Can you tell me where you bought your laptop?

Direct: Is there a conference room in the building?

Indirect: Can you tell me if there is a conference room in the building?

Direct: Does Peter come to his office in the afternoons?

Indirect: I'd like to know if Peter comes to his office in the afternoons.

Direct: Have you studied English before?

Indirect: Can you tell me if you have studied English before?

Direct: Why didn't John call me last night?

Indirect: Can you tell me why John didn't call me last night?

Direct: Who did you send samples of our products to?

Indirect: I'd like to know who you sent samples of our products to.

Time Expressions

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency usually go before the verb, except for the verb "to be":

• I am always nervous before an exam.
• I usually drink coffee.

Other Expressions of Frequency

Examples include:

• Every day
• Every year
• Once a...
• Twice a...
• Three times a...
• On Mondays...

Asking About Frequency

Use: How often...?

Suggesting Things

• How about + verb + -ing...? / How about calling our suppliers in China?
• Why don't we + verb (infinitive)? / Why don't we call our supplier in China?
• We could + verb (infinitive) / We could call our supplier in China.
• Let's + verb (infinitive) / Let's call our supplier in China.

Expressing Purpose

• To + infinitive (to + infinitive) / I'm taking some money to buy some pens.
• So that + subject (so that + clause)
• For + noun (for + noun) / I'm going to the stationer's for some pens.

Imperative

• 1st person plural: Let us / Let's not start the meeting.
• 2nd person singular/plural: Infinitive / Don't + infinitive. Open the door!
• 3rd person: He/She/They + must + infinitive

Active to Passive Voice (TO BE + Past Participle)

• Active: Do you read books when you are on holiday?
• Passive: Are books read by you when you are on holiday?
• Active: The company doesn't sell its products to Asia.
• Passive: The company's products aren't sold to Asia by it.
• Active: He writes about fifty e-mails every day.
• Passive: About fifty e-mails are written every day by him.
• Active: We don't study the lesson in class; we study it at home.
• Passive: The lesson isn't studied in class by us; it is studied at home.
• Active: My mother often gives me money for sweets.
• Passive: I am often given money for sweets by my mother. / Money is often given to me for sweets by my mother.
• Active: The company offers us special discounts on its products.
• Passive: We are offered special discounts on its products by the company. / Special discounts are offered to us on its products by the company.