The subordinate clause also adjusts in person and number: (2) personal pronouns (i.e., I→you, me→you, we→you, etc.) and verb agreement (e.g., I am→you are) adjust to the perspective of the speaker.
My friends always ask, "Are they ready?"
Suborder Mark: If are they ready
Word order: If they are ready
Person & Number: If I am ready
Tense: -
Time & Place: -
My friends always ask if I am ready
Time/Location
TIME ADJUSTMENT
The subordinate clause adjusts in time: (3) adverbs and prepositional phrases adjust if the verb in the main clause is an earlier time.
My friend asked, "Are they leaving tomorrow?"
Suborder Mark: If are they leaving tomorrow
Word order: If they are leaving tomorrow
Person & Number: -
Tense: They were leaving tomorrow
Time & Place: They were leaving the next day
My friends asked if they were leaving tomorrow
LOCATION ADJUSTMENT
The subordinate clause adjusts in location and direction: (4) adverbs and prepositional phrases for location are changed to reflect something that is near or far from the speaker.
