Can you tell me where is the money?

[englishhobby]

I have to explain to my students why the word order in the sentence Can you tell me where is the money? is incorrect. I am not sure which grammatical terms I should use. Is it an indirect question? Or is it an embedded question?

On the other hand, I seem to have read somewhere that the word order in sentences like the one I quoted (Can you tell me where is the money?) is possible, too (with the linking verb "to be" only). Is it so?

[Rover_KE]

Direct question: 'Where is the money?'

Indirect question: 'Can you tell me where the money is?'

The word order has to change in the indirect question form and in the embedded question form: 'I want to know where the money is.' (No question mark.)


Rover

[englishhobby]

Direct question: 'Where is the money?'

Indirect question: 'Can you tell me where the money is?'

The word order has to change in the indirect question form and in the embedded question form: 'I want to know where the money is.' (No question mark.)


Rover

Thank you. I was also wondering if it would be definitely a mistake to say "I want to know where is the money".

[emsr2d2]

Thank you. I was also wondering if it would be definitely a mistake to say "I want to know where is the money".

I'm going to say yes, it's a mistake. And now I'm going to sit back and watch several people disagree with me.

[hetzer]

Thank you. I was also wondering if it would be definitely a mistake to say "I want to know where is the money".

I know for sure this is a mistake. On the other hand, I know a lot of people who say it is OK.

[Odessa Dawn]

Thank you. I was also wondering if it would be definitely a mistake to say "I want to know where is the money".

I'm going to say yes, it's a mistake. And now I'm going to sit back and watch several people disagree with me.

"I want to know where is the money".

1."I want to know" = Introductory phrase.

2.(Where, why, when etc.)

3."The money" = should be constructed in a positive sentence. - "The money is"

Will you accept that analysis? Am I right?

More: Indirect Questions for Politeness Page # 3

[probus]

Hello OD:

A question please. Why have some of your questions recently begun appearing in new threads, rather than in their original threads? There may be a good reason; I just don't know what it is.

[5jj]

A question please. Why have some of your questions recently begun appearing in new threads, rather than in their original threads?

I have merged these two threads.

[Odessa Dawn]

Hello OD:
A question please. Why have some of your questions recently begun appearing in new threads, rather than in their original threads? There may be a good reason; I just don't know what it is.

Thank you for your question. To me, it is a must to stick to teachers' commands/directives. I have been told not to hijack others' threads as you see below.

OD, there is a danger of hijacking this thread. If you have a question about a construction in someone else's thread, please copy the relevant passage and open a new thread with your own question.

Edit: As you can see, I have moved your question and started a new thread with it.
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...niversity.html

[5jj]

Thank you for your question. To me, it is a must to stick to teachers' commands/directives. I have been told not to hijack others' threads

In posr #6, you appear to be posting a tentative response to the original question. If you intended it as an original question, then there was no need to link to this thread.