Can you tell me what festival is that?

[emp0608]

Hi folks,

I'm wondering how I should explain to my students why the indirect question is not used here.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0tVVWUOTN75

I have just recently taught my students the basics of the indirect question, like "What's that?" becomes "Can you tell me what that is?"

Thanks,

emp0608

[emsr2d2]

The pause you can hear after the word "me" is important. He is saying "Can you tell me? What festival is this?" It could be written "Can you tell me ... What festival is this?"

"Can you tell me?" is a way of saying "Can you tell me something?" before going on to explain what the question actually is. The normal word order without the pause would be "Can you tell me what festival this is?"

[emp0608]

Thanks, emsr2d2. Now I can explain it to my students. I've been racking my brains.

[emsr2d2]

I'm not sure if you misheard it or if it was a simple typo, but he definitely said "this", not "that" (as you used in your title and your post).

[emp0608]

Yes, I noticed that. It was a typo.