Indirect Questions
Learn to ask questions politely and formally in English
⏰ When do we use Indirect Questions
We use indirect questions to:
-
Sound polite or formal:
- Could you tell me where the train station is?
- Do you know what time the store closes?
-
Embed a question within a statement:
- I wonder what time the meeting starts.
- She wants to know if you’re coming.
-
Introduce questions with polite phrases:
- Can you tell me how much this costs?
- Could you explain why this happened?
-
Ask yes/no questions indirectly:
- Do you know if she is coming to the party?
- I wonder whether it will rain tomorrow.
📌 Structure
- Basic Pattern:
Main clause + question phrase + subject + verb - With Question Words:
Could you tell me + where/what/how + subject + verb - Yes/No Questions:
Do you know + if/whether + subject + verb
📝 Note
Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions and follow specific word order rules that differ from direct questions.
- Word Order: Subject comes before the verb (not inverted like direct questions)
- No auxiliary verbs (do/does/did) are used in the embedded question
- Use “if” or “whether” for yes/no questions without specific question words
Examples: Direct: “Where is she?” → Indirect: “Do you know where she is?”, Direct: “Is it raining?” → Indirect: “Do you know if it is raining?”.
💬 Examples
✅ Polite Requests
- Can you tell me where the nearest bank is?
- Could you explain how this machine works?
- Do you know what time the meeting starts?
❌ Common Mistakes
- Do you know where is she?
➡ Do you know where she is? - Could you tell me what does he like?
➡ Could you tell me what he likes? - I wonder is it raining?
➡ I wonder if it is raining?
❓ Embedded Questions
- I wonder why he left so early.
- She wants to know if they are joining us.
- Do you know if she has finished her homework?
🎯 Practice Exercises
⬇️ Interactive exercise will appear here soon.
Ready to Ask Questions Politely and Indirectly in English?
Learning to form indirect questions (e.g., “Could you tell me where the bank is?”) is a fantastic step to sounding more polite, natural, and sophisticated in English conversations. It’s essential for professional and respectful communication!
Do you want to practice transforming direct questions into indirect ones and use them appropriately in various social situations? My online English classes offer fun, interactive ways to master indirect questions and all other essential grammar points. You’ll get plenty of confidence.
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