Indirect Questions

(Download this explanation in PDF here.)

Have a look at this conversation.

Me: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the nearest station is?
Person in the street: Certainly. It's along that road on the right.
Me: Thank you. And do you know if there's a supermarket near here?
Person in the street: Yes, there's one next to the station.
Me: Thank you very much for your help.

I use indirect questions when I'm asking for help in the street, because they are very polite.
Indirect questions start with a phrase like 'could you tell me...' or 'do you know...'. For example:

Direct question: Where is the bank?

Indirect question: Could you tell me where the bank is?

Notice that in the indirect question I put the verb ('is') after the subject ('the bank'), in the same
way as I do with a normal positive sentence ('the bank is over there'), but in the direct question I
put the verb 'is' before the subject 'the bank'. This is called inversion, and it is used to make direct
questions in many verb tenses in English, but we don't use inversion in indirect questions. This is
very similar to the grammar of reported questions. However, we use indirect questions in a
different way from reported questions. Indirect questions are a way of being polite. They are very,
very common in English, especially when you're talking to someone you don't know.

'Yes / No' Questions

To make an indirect 'yes / no' question, we use 'if' and the word order of a normal positive
sentence. This is the same as for reported 'yes / no' questions. On the other hand, we don't usually
need to 'backshift' (change the tense of the verb) as we do with reported questions.

Of course, most tenses make questions by using 'inversion' (changing the word order). To change
from a direct 'yes / no' question with inversion to an indirect question, you add 'if' and change the
word order back to a normal positive sentence. You don't need to use inversion.

'Yes / no' questions for tenses with inversion:

Verb Tense Direct Question Indirect Question

Present simple
Is he Spanish? Can you tell me if he is Spanish?
with 'be'
Present Can you tell me if the restaurant is
Is the restaurant closing now?
continuous closing now?
Past simple with Can you tell me if he was late for the
Was he late for the meeting?
'be' meeting?
Can you tell me if you were watching TV
Past continuous Were you watching TV at 3pm?
at 3pm?
Can you tell me if Lucy has been to
Present perfect Has Lucy been to Mexico?
Mexico?
Present perfect Can you tell me if she has been living
Has she been living here long?
continuous here long?
Had she found this job when she Can you tell me if she had found this job
Past perfect
moved here? when she moved here?
Past perfect Had she been living here long Can you tell me if she had been living
continuous when she met you? here long when she met you?
Future simple Will she start her new job next Can you tell me if she will start her new
with 'will' week? job next week?
Future simple
Is it going to rain later? Can you tell me if it is going to rain later?
with 'going to'
Future Will Lisa be meeting the boss Can you tell me if Lisa will be meeting
continuous later? the boss later?
Will he have finished the report Can you tell me if he will have finished
Future perfect
by tonight? the report by tonight?
Will he have been studying Can you tell me if he will have been
Future perfect
French for twenty years when he studying French for twenty years when
continuous
retires? he retires?

Modal verbs Should we start now? Can you tell me if we should start now?

'Yes / no' questions with tenses that use 'do / does / did':

Sometimes you want to make an indirect question using the present simple of any verb except
'be' or the past simple of any verb except 'be'. These tense make direct questions by using 'do /
does / did'. When we want to make indirect 'yes / no' questions using these tenses, we need 'if'
and we don't need 'do / does / did'
Verb Tense Direct Question Indirect Question

Present simple with any verb Does David live in Can you tell me if David lives in
except 'be' London? London?

Past simple with any verb Did Amanda call John Can you tell me if Amanda called
except 'be' yesterday? John yesterday?

'Wh' Questions

In the same way as with reported 'wh' questions, we use the question word and the word order of
a normal positive sentence to make indirect 'wh' questions. We don't need to use inversion. Again,
we also don't usually need to 'backshift' (change the tense of the verb) as we do with reported
questions.

To change a direct question to an indirect question for tenses that make questions using inversion,
you just add 'if' and change the word order back to a normal positive sentence.

'Wh' questions for tenses with inversion:

Verb Tense Direct Question Indirect Question

Present simple
Why is he unhappy? Can you tell me why he is unhappy?
with 'be'

Present Can you tell me when the restaurant is

When is the restaurant closing?
continuous closing?
Past simple with Why was he late for the Can you tell me why he was late for the
'be' meeting? meeting?
Can you tell me what you were doing at
Past continuous What were you doing at 3pm?
3pm?

Present perfect Where has Lucy been? Can you tell me where Lucy has been?

Present perfect How long has she been living Can you tell me how long she has been
continuous here? living here?
Why had she quit her job before Can you tell me why she had quit her job
Past perfect
she moved here? before she moved here?
Past perfect How long had she been living Can you tell me how long she had been
continuous here when she met you? living here when she met you?
 Future simple with Can you tell me when she will start her
When will she start her new job?
'will' new job?

Future simple with

When is it going to rain? Can you tell me when it is going to rain?
'going to'

What time will Lisa be meeting Can you tell me what time Lisa will be
Future continuous
the boss? meeting the boss?

When will he have finished the Can you tell me when he will have
Future perfect
report? finished the report?

Future perfect How long will he have been Can you tell me how long he will have
continuous studying French when he retires? been studying French when he retires?

Can you tell me what we should do

Modal verbs What should we do now?
now?

'Wh' questions for tenses with 'do / does / did':

Sometimes you want to make an indirect 'wh' question using the present simple of any verb
except 'be' or the past simple of any verb except 'be'. Usually these tenses make questions by
using 'do / does / did'. However, when we want to make indirect 'wh' questions using these
tenses, we don't need 'do / does / did'. Instead, we use a question word and then normal positive
sentence word order.

Verb Tense Direct Question Indirect Question

Present simple with any

Where does David live? Can you tell me where David lives?
verb except 'be'

Past simple with any verb Why did Amanda call John Can you tell me why Amanda called
except 'be' yesterday? John yesterday?

Common Problems

It can be difficult to remember to put the verb after the subject, especially when the indirect
question is in the present simple tense of 'be'. For example, we need to say:

Could you tell me where the station is?

NOT:
The Future Continuous

(or future progressive tense)

The future continuous tense isn't taught very much in English classes but, in fact, English speakers
use it a lot. You will sound much more natural if you master this tense.

(Click here to learn about how to USE this tense)

Here's how to make it:

The positive (will + be + verb-ing):

At 10 am tomorrow,
 I will be sleeping
 you will be working
 she will be studying
 it will be raining
 he will be cooking
 we will be eating breakfast
 they will be travelling

In the same way as with the future simple, usually we use the short form ('ll be verb-ing) when we
are speaking.

Sometimes students don't use the short form, because they are not sure how to pronounce it.
Here are some examples to help.

 I'll be sleeping
 you'll be working
 she'll be studying
 it'll be raining
 he'll be cooking
 we'll be eating breakfast
 they'll be travellin

Here's an exercise about making the future continuous positive

Here's the negative:

When John gets home,

  I will not be working (I won't be ..)
 you will not be reading (you won't be ..)
 he will not be cooking (he won't be ..)
 she will not be studying (she won't be ..)
 it will not be snowing (it won't be ..)
 we will not be watching TV (we won't be ..)
 they will not be sleeping (they won't be ..)

As with the positive, we usually use the short form (won't + be + verb-ing) when speaking.

Here's an exercise to practise the negative.

Next, the question:

'yes / no' questions:

When arrives at the party,

 will I be cooking?
 will you be dancing?
 will she be singing?
 will he be eating?
 will we be drinking?
 will it be snowing?
 will they be talking?
'wh' questions:
Next weekend,

 what will I be doing?

 where will you be working?
 how will she be travelling?
 what will he be eating?
 why will we be studying?
 why will it be snowing?
 what will they be wearing?

Here's an exercise about 'yes / no' and 'wh' questions

1. Portada
2. Gramática inglesa
3. Verbos
4. Futuro
FUTURE CONTINUOUS FORMACIÓN

El "future continuous" está compuesto por dos elementos:

el "simple future" del verbo 'to be' + el "present participle" (raíz+ing) del verbo principal

Sujeto "simple future" de 'to be' pre"sent participle" del verbo principal

You will be watching

I will be staying

TO STAY, "FUTURE CONTINUOUS"

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa Negativa interrogativa

I will be staying. I won't be staying. Will I be staying? Won't I be staying?

You will be staying. You won't be Will you be staying? Won't you be staying?
staying.

He will be staying. He won't be Will he be staying? Won't he be staying?

staying.

She will be staying. She won't be Will she be staying? Won't she be staying?
staying.

It will be staying. It won't be staying. Will it be staying? Won't it be staying?

We will be staying. We won't be Will we be staying? Won't we be staying?

staying.

They will be staying. They won't be Will they be staying? Won't they be staying?
staying.

FUNCIONES

El "future continuous" hace referencia a una acción o evento inacabados que seguirán ocurriendo
con posterioridad al momento presente. El "future continuous" se emplea con una considerable
variedad de propósitos.

El "future continuous" puede utilizarse para proyectarnos hacia el futuro

EJEMPLOS

 This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.

 By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro.
 Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.

El "future continuous" puede utilizarse para realizar predicciones o suposiciones sobre eventos
futuros.

EJEMPLOS

 He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.

 I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
 You'll be missing the sunshine once you're back in England.

En forma interrogativa, el "future continuous" sirve para pedir educadamente información sobre
el futuro.

EJEMPLOS

 Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?

 Will Jim be coming with us?
 Will she be going to the party tonight?
 Will I be sleeping in this room?

El "future continuous" puede utilizarse para hacer referencia a eventos de cierta duración que
creemos que se desarrollarán en el futuro.

EJEMPLOS

 I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.

 When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.
 I'll be eating with Jane this evening so I can tell her.

En combinación con el término "still", el "future continuous" hace referencia a eventos que ya
están ocurriendo ahora y que suponemos que se prolongarán en el futuro.

EJEMPLOS

 In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.

 Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
 Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
 Won't stock prices still be falling in the morning?
 Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years
 How to Write a Composition

Do you want to excel in your English Language subject or exceed everyone’s expectations while
taking an exam? Then you need to know how to prepare a great composition!

Compositions happen to be one of the most important aspects of learning the English Language.
However, the task can be challenging and stressful in a sense that the topics are wide-ranging and
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Effective Planning Gives Right Direction

Planning is very important for preparing a great composition. It aids in organizing your thoughts,
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To be more prepared for starting to write your composition, you need to answer the 5 W’s and 1
H:

1. Who is the main character of your story?

2. Where do the events take place?
3. When does it happen?
4. What happened?
5. Why did it occur?
6. How was everything solved

After answering these questions and identifying the main purpose of your composition (to inform,
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Use a Common Composition Structure

When writing a composition, it is essential to know its main parts. A typical composition in the
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Heading

When choosing a title for your composition, make sure it relates to the presented content. Keep it
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Introduction

The next important thing after the heading is the introductory paragraph. It basically lets the
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Therefore, make sure that your introduction:
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Consider to insert a dialogue, intriguing facts, shocking information or a joke to grab the reader’s
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After the introductory paragraph, make a smooth transition to the main part of your composition.
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While writing, keep the following things in mind:

 keep the sentences simple and short for your reader to easily follow your thoughts;
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Conclusion

The conclusion is the last but not the least part of your composition. Never end your story
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Pointers to Good Composition Writing

Take note of the following things while writing your composition:

1. Your writing should be concise, vivid and sharp.

2. Never use the slang if it doesn’t fit the format of your composition.
3. Don’t use the words if you are not sure about their meaning.
4. Keep your sentences short and not overwhelming.
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Revise your story once it is completed to make sure that you’ve prepared a masterpiece!