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BUSINESS ENGLISH · GRAMMAR PRACTICE · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

DIRECT AND
INDIRECT
QUESTIONS IN
BUSINESS
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1 Presentation

When we ask for information, we often use direct questions: Where is the boss?
If we want to be more polite or formal, we can use indirect questions: Can you tell me where the boss
is?

Direct questions Indirect questions

Direct questions are normal questions: Indirect questions begin with Could you
What time is it? tell me ...,Can you tell me ..., I’d like to
How long does the journey take? know ..., Do you know ..., etc.:
Why are you negotiating with that Can you tell me what time it is?
client? Do you know how long the journey
How long have you been working takes?
here? I’d like to know why you are negotiating
Is he at the office? with that client.
Did she reply to your email? Could you tell me how long you’ve been
working here?
Do you know if he is at the office?
I wonder if she replied to your email.

Rules for forming direct and indirect questions

Direct questions can be simple questions (Are you at the office?), subject questions (Who sold you the
car?) or object questions (How much did they make?).
With simple questions and object questions we use special word order for questions:

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DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS IN BUSINESS

If there is a ‘helping verb’ (auxiliary verb), for example will, was, have, and can, we put the subject after
the auxiliary verb:
Can you help me? Where will Kate be tomorrow? How many languages can you speak?
In simple present and simple past questions, we use do/does/did:
Where do they work? Did the client call you back?
Indirect questions have the same word order as statements (subject before verb):
Do you know how long the journey takes?
We do not use do/does/did in the question: Do you know how long does the journey take takes?
If there is no question word (who, where, why, how, etc.) in the direct question, we can use if or
whether in the indirect question:
I wonder if she replied to your email. I wonder whether she replied to your email.

2 Practice 1

Rewrite the questions below as indirect questions.

1. Where is your office?

Could you tell me where your office is?
2. How do you say this in English?
I’d like to know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Do you offer a discount for new clients?
Can you tell me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?
4. How long did the meeting take?
I wonder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. How did you fix the printer issue?
Can you explain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?
6. When are you going to sign the contract?
Please tell me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. How long has he been waiting?
I don’t know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. Why did you sell your business?
I’m curious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS IN BUSINESS

3 Practice 2 - Job interview

Complete the dialogue below.

1
Interviewer: Let’s talk about your previous job. Could you describe
(what were your responsibilities?)
Michael: Well, my duties included answering the phone, dealing with customers, and organizing
meetings for the director.
2
Interviewer: And can you tell us (why did you quit?)
Michael: Well, after 5 years in the same company, I felt that I was ready for a different challenge.
3
Interviewer: Could you tell us
(why would you like to work for our company?)
Michael: Yes. Your company is well-known all over the world.
4
Interviewer: Hmm. I’d like to know . (what are your weaknesses?)

Michael: Well, I am a perfectionist, and sometimes this can be a problem. But I’m working on it.
5
Interviewer: OK. Please let us know (can you start next week?)

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4 Practice 3 - Sales meeting

Now do the same with the following dialogue.

Charles: I’d like to know about your company’s experience in the market. Could you tell me
1
(how many customers do you have?)
Supplier: We have around 10,000 customers around the world.
2
Charles: And can you tell us (where are they based?)
Supplier: Our customers are mostly in Brazil, Spain, and France.
3
Charles: OK, great. And could you tell us
(how many years have you been in the market?)
Supplier: Oh, our company was established about 15 years ago, so we’re quite experienced.
4
Charles: OK. Could you tell me (do you have any experience with
large companies?)

Supplier: Sure. One of our main customers is Samsung.

5
Charles: Interesting. (I / get a reference from them?)
Charles: Sure, I’ll email it to you after this meeting.

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DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS IN BUSINESS

5 Practice 4

Make indirect questions from the direct questions. In pairs, take turns to ask and answer the questions.

1. How do you get to work every day?

Can you tell me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?
2. How long have you been working for your company?
I’d like to know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. What was your first job?
I’m interested to know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Do you enjoy your work?
Could you tell me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?
5. How often do you use English in your work?
I’d like to know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Are you going to attend any meetings tomorrow?
Could you tell me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?

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TEACHER MATERIALS · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS IN BUSINESS

Key

2. Practice 1

2. I’d like to know how you say this in English.

3. Can you tell me if/whether you offer a discount for new clients?
4. I wonder how long the meeting took.
5. Can you explain how you fixed the printer issue?
6. Please tell me when you are going to sign the contract.
7. I don’t know how long he has been waiting.
8. I’m curious why you sold your business.

3. Practice 2 - Job interview

1. what your responsibilities were?

2. why you quit?
3. why you would like to work for our company?
4. what your weaknesses are
5. if/whether you can start next week.

4. Practice 3 - Sales meeting

1. how many customers you have?

2. where they are based?
3. how many years you’ve been in the market?
4. if you have any experience with large companies?
5. Can I get a reference from them?

5. Practice 4

1. how you get to work every day

2. how long you’ve been working for your company
3. what your first job was.
4. if/whether you enjoy your work
5. how often you use English in your work.
6. if you’re going to attend any meetings tomorrow

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