Question 1

Why is it si vous avez instead of a question structure like avez-vous?

Accepted Answer

Because this is an indirect question. When reporting a yes/no question, French uses si (if or whether) followed by the normal subject-verb word order. You do not use inversion or est-ce que after si in reported speech.

Question 2

Would si drop its last letter if the next word started with a vowel, like elle?

Accepted Answer

No, the word si only drops its -i when followed directly by il or ils (becoming s'il or s'ils). Before any other word, even those starting with vowels like elle or on, it remains si.

Question 3

Why doesn't the tense of avez change to the imperfect here?

Accepted Answer

Because the introductory verb demande is in the present tense. When reporting speech introduced by a present tense verb, the tense of the original quote does not change. If her original question was in the present tense, it stays in the present tense in the reported version.

Question 4

Does demande mean she is demanding or insisting on the qualifications?

Accepted Answer

No, demander is a classic false friend. It usually just means to ask. If you want to express demanding or requiring something in French, you would use a stronger verb like exiger.

Question 5

Why is it ce poste instead of cette poste?

Accepted Answer

The word poste is masculine (un poste) when it refers to a job, a position, or a workstation. It is only feminine (la poste) when referring to the post office or the postal service.

Elle demande si vous avez les qualifications nécessaires pour ce poste.

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