Hi Teia.
It's nice exchanging views with you here! I'm sorry to say, though, that I must disagree with you again.
Waiting for answers from English teachers, I'd like you to know that I'm an English teacher, too; I've been one for 28 years now. Of course, I'm not English, I'm Greek, but still a teacher of English with lots of experience. I may be nowhere near native English teachers in language fluency, skills etc., but I'm quite familiar with English grammar.
I wish I could cite some rules or examples from some grammar book, since you require some language authority to verify my claims, but unfortunately I've lent my basic grammar books to a friend. Therefore, I can only refer you to numerous findings from the Internet.
Let's see then. This is really rather simple: Questions in reported (indirect) speech have nothing to do with conditionals. Please consider the following:
-Will he pass his exam? (a direct question)
-I don't know if/whether he will pass his exam (a reported question)
There's no conditional here. If there were one, it would have to be a conditional in direct speech, too. The following example is a conditional:
He'll be very happy if he passes his exam. In the previous sentence,
will would be unacceptable in the 'if'-clause.
Cited below are examples of
will used in 'if'-clauses. None of these
will instances have a meaning close to
wish or be willing to or similar. They're all used to report direct questions (ie they are questions in reported speech). Were one to reconstruct the original question, or ask the question directly, one would come up with a question only, with no trace of a conditional anywhere. The examples have been taken from sources as reliable as I could find. If the Washington Post, one of the most well-known newspapers worldwide, is to be doubted, can sources such as the UK House of Commons, the BBC News, The Guardian, British and American Universities also be regarded unreliable? Anyway, here they are:
--------------------
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
I doubt
if I'll pass the course (
Definition of if - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
--------------------
First Year Parents
As you send your child to college, you probably realize that their life is going to change. You may be asking yourself
if they will be homesick,
if they will make friends,
if they will succeed academically, and
if they will change or be different as a result of their college experience. The truth is that their life will change and so will yours. (
First Year Parents)
--------------------
Stanford University
...be sure you talk to them before the summer and ask
if they will be able to write a recommendation for you the next year. (
Stanford: Applying to Stanford | Preparing for College: Grade 11)
-------------------
STATE OF MICHIGAN
Department of
Human
Services
Residence requirements will be met because clients have no way to estimate
when/if they will be returning to their former state of residence. (
http://michiganlegalaid.org/library_client/resource.2005-09-21.5182931234/file0/at_download)
------------------
University of New Hampshire
If and how anonymity and/or confidentiality of subject will be maintained, including storage and access to data, and reporting of results. If collecting data on audio and/or video tape, explain the purpose for recordings, how they will be used, how and where they will be stored, who will have access,
if they will be coded, cross-referenced, destroyed after transcription, or any other procedure used to maintain confidentiality. (
http://www.unh.edu/osr/compliance/support/sample_ic_frm.doc)
-----------------
University of Southern California
If activities are to be audio- or videotaped, describe the subject’s right to review/edit the tapes, who will have access,
if they will be used for educational purpose, and approximately when they will be erased.
(http://www.usc.edu/admin/provost/oprs/private/docs/upirb/forms/Verbal_Consent_Script_1107.doc)
------------------
University of Delaware
Students need to know
if they will be expected to participate in discussions (
THE SYLLABUS RE-EVALUATED: CREATING)
------------------
UK House of Commons:
2 Alice Mahon (Halifax): To ask the Secretary of State for Health,
if he will publish the annual report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
3 Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk): To ask the Prime Minister, what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and
if he will make a statement.
15 Barbara Follett (Stevenage): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
if he will make a statement about recent developments in the preparation of secondary legislation under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.(
Order of Business for Thursday 7th December 2000)
--------------------
Parliamentary Brief
The question now is whether, like Annan, he will try to redeem his legacy only after leaving his post, or
if he will do something while he still can. (
Carrots but no stick - Home - Parliamentary Brief)
-------------------
The Guardian
I wonder
if he will write back. I doubt it. (
Business as usual. Real news from Observer Blog)
-------------------
BBC News
Current Assembly group leader Mike German will make it clear
if he will try to stay or
if he will step down. (
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Politics Show | Should I go or should I stay..?)
-------------------
Ok, maybe we can find some common ground and then again maybe not. It's Ok anyway. If everyone agreed on everything with everybody else, this world would be rather boring
Cheers!