Could you tell me 后面的宾语从句必须用过去时吗

问题描述

有这样一道选择题：

—Could you tell me _______?

—They're over there. 

A. where are the fitting rooms 

B. where were the fitting rooms   

C. where the fitting rooms are  

D. where the fitting rooms were 

参考答案是：D. where the fitting rooms were 

我认为正确答案应该是 C. where the fitting rooms are 

理由如下：

(1) 问句中的 Could 只是表示客气用法，不是表示过去。答语中的 They're = they are,谓语动词是一般现在时，问句中的谓语动词也应该用一般现在时，所以 D. where the fitting rooms were 是错误的。

(2) me 后面应该是宾语从句，作 tell 的直接宾语，宾语从句应该用陈述句语序，所以 A 和 B 是错误的。

老师答疑

陈老师：

▲完全同意黎老师的分析。这是很常用的一类句式。又如：

Could you tell me what the time is? 请问几点钟了？

Could you tell me where the ladies is? 请问女厕所在哪？

Could you tell me where Barker Drive is please? 请问 Barker Drive 在哪？

Excuse me, but could you tell me where the post office is? 对不起，请问邮局在什么地方? 

Excuse me, could you tell me where the enquiry office is? 对不起，请问问讯处在哪？

Excuse me, could you tell me which way Dobson’s bookstore is? 对不起，请问去Dobson 书店走哪条路？

▲当然，如果有特定的语境，从句用其他时态也是可能的。如：

A: What a pity! The old church was destroyed in the air raid.

B: Could you tell me where the old church was?

A: It was just over there.