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Is it correct to say the following as an indirect question?

Can you tell me where did you buy it?

or should it be

Can you tell me where you bought it?

Mari-Lou A
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Mrt
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  • related: [“I can't understand what does it mean.” vs “I can't understand what it means.”](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/217202) and [reported speech for 'what do you do?'](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/158017) and [“Do you know what IS IT?” vs “Do you know what IT IS?”](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/41628/) – Mari-Lou A Sep 06 '20 at 10:48

1 Answers1

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Can you tell me where did you buy it?

This doesn't work - although you could say "Can you tell me - where did you buy it?" if you were adding a significant pause and making it into two independent clauses. But then both would be direct questions.

Can you tell me where you bought it?

Correct.

There's also "Can you tell me where you did buy it?" but you would only say this in certain circumstances (for example, where the addressee had previously denied buying it at a particular location).

rjpond
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