What are Direct and Indirect Questions in English Grammar? - Example Sentence
Indirect Questions sound more polite and formal.
We usually use them for:
- making enquiries,
- making polite requests,
- with people we don't know well, etc.
2. Direct vs Indirect Questions Uses & Difference - Example Sentence
- (Direct Question)
e.g. Where is the nearest bus stop?
- (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?
3. How to form Indirect Questions?
We usually add these phrases to make the question sound polite :
- Do you know...?
- Can you tell me...?
- Could you tell me...?
Vocabulary Check!
'could' is a little more formal than 'can'
4. How to change a Direct to an Indirect Question?
We'll be looking at the grammar rules of how to make an Indirect Question for the following:
- Indirect Wh- Questions with - 'is', 'are'
- Indirect Wh- Questions with - 'do', 'does', 'did'
- Indirect Yes / No Questions with - 'Is...?', 'Do..?', 'Can...?
Let's go step-by-step for each of the above in the following examples:
(a) Wh-Questions with 'is' , 'are'
i) Wh-Questions with 'is'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. Where is the nearest bus stop?
b. How to change to Indirect form:
i. (add the phrase),
ii. (wh-question),
iii. (change verb order 'is' to after the Subject)
- (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Do you know + where + the nearest bus stop is?
(i) (ii) (iii)
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Do you know where the nearest bus stop is? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Do you know where is the nearest bus stop?]❌
ii) Wh-Questions with 'are'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. How much are those shirts?
How to change to Indirect form:
i. (add the phrase),
ii. (wh-question),
iii. (change verb order 'are' to after the Subject)
- (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Can you tell me + how much + those shirts are?
(i) (ii) (iii)
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Can you tell me how much those shirts are? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Can you tell me how much are those shirts?]❌
(b) Wh-Questions with 'do', 'does', 'did'
i. Wh-Questions with - 'do'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. How often do they come here?
- (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Could you tell me + how often + they come here?
(i) (ii) (iii)
How to change to Indirect form with 'do':
i. (add the phrase),
ii. (wh-question),
iii. (drop 'do')
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Could you tell me how often they come here? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Could you tell me how often do they come here?]❌
ii) Wh-Question with - 'does'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. When does the mall open?
- (Indirect Question)
>> Do you know + when + the mall + opens?
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
How to change to Indirect form with 'does':
i. (add the phrase),
ii. (wh-question),
iii. (drop 'does'),
iv. (verb + 's')
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Do you know when the mall opens? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Do you know when does the mall open?]❌
iii) Wh-Questions with - 'did'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. What time did the last train leave?
- (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Could you tell me + what time + the last train left?
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
How to change to Indirect form with 'did':
i. (add the phrase),
ii. (wh-question,
iii. (drop 'did'),
iv. (change verb to past simple form)
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Could you tell me what time the last train left? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Could you tell me what time did the last train leave?]❌
(c) Yes / No Questions with 'Is ..?, 'Do..?, 'Can..?'
i. Yes / No Questions - 'Is ...?'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. Is Eddy at the office?
- (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Could you tell me + if + Eddy is + at the office?
(i) (ii) (iii)
e.g. >> Could you tell me + whether + Eddy is + at the office?
(i) (ii) (iii)
How to change to Indirect form 'Is...?':
i. add the 'phrase',
ii. add 'if ' or 'whether',
iii. verb 'is' after Subject
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Could you tell me if / whether Eddy is at the office?✅
- (Common Mistake) [Could you tell me if / whether is Eddy at the office?]❌
ii. Yes / No Question with - 'Do..?'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. Do the children walk to school?
- (Indirect Question)
Example: Do you know + if + the children walk to school?
Do you know + whether + the children walk to school?
(i) (ii) (iii)
How to change to Indirect form 'Do...?':
i. add the phrase,
ii. add if or whether
iii. drop 'do'
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Do you know if / whether they know each other? ✅
- (Common Mistake) Do you know if / whether do they know each other?❌
iii. Yes/ No Question with - 'Can...?'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. Can the students knit?
- (Indirect Question)
>> Could you tell me + if + the students can knit?
(i) (ii) (iii)
>> Could you tell me + whether + the students can knit?
(i) (ii) (iii)
How to change to Indirect form 'Can...?':
i. add the 'phrase',
ii. add 'if ' or 'whether',
iii. 'can' is after Subject
Grammar Point!
- (Indirect Question) Could you tell me if / whether they can knit?✅
- (Common Mistake) [Could you tell me if / whether can they knit?]❌
5. Indirect Questions - More Conversation Sentences
Example:
(a) - At the Info Desk
A: Hello, how may I help you?
B: Oh, could you tell me what the theme park opens?
A: Sure, it opens at 9.00 on weekdays.
B: Do you know if I could get tickets there?
A: Yes, you could. But it'll be cheaper to buy them online.
B: Hmm...I think I'll do that. Do you know how often the buses leave for the park?
A: The hotel shuttle service leaves every 15 minutes. The first one leaves at 8.00 am.
B: Thank you so much for your help.
(b) - At the office
A: Meg, Mike wants to see you and your team.
B: Do you know why he wants to see us?
A: Maybe it’s about tomorrow’s event.
(c) - At the hotel reception
Guest : Do you know if the shops are open tomorrow?
Staff A : I’m not sure. Let me find out for you….Marie, do you know whether the shops are open tomorrow?
Staff B : The shops close early tomorrow at 3pm. The street parade starts at 5pm.
Guest : Thank you. Could you show us where the train station is?
Staff A: Sure. Here, let me show you...
6. Let's Recap!
i. When to Use Indirect Questions & Example
Indirect Questions form are used when:
- making enquiries,
- making polite requests,
- with people we don't know well, etc.
ii. We usually add these phrases to make the question sound polite or formal :
- Do you know...?
- Can you tell me...?
- Could you tell me...?
Review the rules!
a. Indirect Wh-Questions with - 'is' , 'are'
- (change verb order to after Subject)
b. Indirect Wh-Questions with - 'do', 'does', 'did'
i. (drop 'do')
ii. (drop 'does' , verb + s)
iii. (drop 'did' , verb to (past simple)
c. Indirect Yes / No Questions - 'Is ...?' 'Do..?' 'Can...?'
i. (add 'if ' or 'whether')
ii. (verb 'is' after Subject)
7. Over to You!
Change the following to Indirect Questions.
1. Excuse me, what is the time?
...................................................................
2. Sir, is there a bookstore in the next town?
....................................................................
3. Do they sell flowers at the train station?
....................................................................
4. What time does the movie start?
....................................................................
5. When did the last train leave?
....................................................................
Thanks so much for reading. Happy Learning!
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