Can you tell me what are ...

NewguestShould it be: Can you tell me what are the shortcomings of this theory? OR Can you tell me what the shortcomings of this theory are?

Both are correct.

Prajwal

prajwalkr The second one is an indirect question and thus takes the same word order as a statement.Only direct questions interchange subject and verb.Prajwal

Isn't the 1st one an indirect question as well? Both begin with "Can you tell me"

Both are indirect questions (Introduced by a direct question - hence the question mark). Normally we use inversion in direct questions; we do not use it in indirect questions. However, when an indirect question beginning with what, which or who and containing the veb BE asks for the subject (not the complement) of the verb in the response, inversion is not essential. Both the followi

Hi,

It is an embedded question. For writing—and, probably, for careful speech—use the second one: can you tell me
what the shortcoming of this theory are? In conversation, though, the first one is likely to be heard, especially if the
speaker is in full flow.

Likewise:

Where is the post office? > Can you tell me where the post office is?
What is she eating