Correct one?

Question

Hi! everyone. Could you tell me the correct one of the following sentences?-Can you tell me what is your hobby?-Can you tell me what your hobby is?Thanks!

GPY · Accepted Answer

The second one reads more naturally.

In spoken English, people do sometimes use the word order of the first, but would generally leave a slight pause before "what". It's not completely obvious to me how to best punctuate that utterance. I might fudge it and just write "Can you tell me, what is your hobby?"

Generally speaking, using the second one.

MIG · Answer

Hi.
This is not my thread.
Please forgive me.

I have a question.

Is it necessary to put "question mark" at the end of second sentence?
Its an indirect question. I've learned that its not necessary for indirect questions.

GPY · Answer

MIGIs it necessary to put "question mark" at the end of second sentence?Its an indirect question. I've learned that its not necessary for indirect questions.

In my view it should have a question mark. Sometimes "Can you..." sentences are uttered so like a request or command that perhaps they seem not to merit one, but, even so, they are grammatically questions, so it can look incomplete to leave the question mark off when writing them down.

There seems to be some disagreement about what qualifies as an "indirect question". For example, http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/145_gramchallenge36/ gives examples like "Could you tell me where the nearest bank is please?", which correctly have question marks, while http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/indirquesterm.htm seems to restrict the term to sentences that are not true questions and therefore should not have question marks. Perhaps what you have learned is supposed to apply to the latter class.

CalifJim · Answer

MIGIt's an indirect question. I've learned that its not necessary for indirect questions.

It's not necessary for indirect questions that are embedded in statements, but it IS necessary for indirect questions embedded in direct questions.

I don't know where he is.
Do you know where he is?

Can you tell me how we spell this word?
I can't even guess how we spell this word.

I wonder what she wants for her birthday.
Has she told anyone what she wants for her birthday?

CJ

MIG · Answer

Thank you GPY and CalifJim .

I was really confused.

it's not necessary for indirect questions that are embedded in statements, but it IS necessary for indirect questions imbedded in direct questions.

Your diversification is marvelous.

Silak12 · Answer

Thanks! GPY,Calif and MIG. Your conversation was really knowledgeable.

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