They were talking about whether/if they would go back to their hometown.
此句要注意的就是从句的时态 主语谓语动词是were talking是过去的时态,因此从句要使用与过去相关的时态
Mother told/asked me to wash the potatoes and cut them up.
此句没有必要使用宾语从句 所给句子是祈使句,直接用tell/ask sb to do结构就行