LANGUAGES INSTITUTE 2020-03

Indirect questions workshop

Student’s name: JHARLING JHOAN RODRIGUEZ R. Group: 22

James is looking for a restaurant. Read and practice the dialogue with a friend.

James: Excuse me; do you know where a

restaurant is? Indirect questions

Rachel: Well, there are lots near here! What

kind of food do you like? Direct questions

James: Well, I’m vegetarian; do you know

where a good vegetarian restaurant is?
Indirect questions

Rachel: Yes, there’s a place that does a

great vegetable soup on Chester Street.

James: That sounds great! Can you tell me

where the Chester Street is? Indirect
questions

Rachel: Yes, just go straight for two blocks.

James: Great, what is the name of the
place? Direct questions

Rachel: It’s called Pierre’s Kitchen. Enjoy!

James: Thanks!

Circle with a highlighter all the questions you see in the dialogue. See the difference between
them.

We use indirect questions when we want to be polite. Read the examples on the next page of
direct questions changed into indirect questions:

Direct questions Indirect questions

What kind of food do you like? Could you tell me what kind of food you like?

What does she eat? Could you tell me what she eats?

When did you graduate? Could you tell me when you graduated?

Where is the restaurant? Do you know where the restaurant is?

Have you visited Mexico? Yes or no question Could you tell me if you have visited Mexico?

Where have you been lately? Could you tell me where you have been lately?

Do you like English? Yes/no question. Could you tell me if you like English?

Where will you go? Could you tell where you will go?

What can you eat? Could you tell me what you can eat?

Let’s practice the indirect questions.

1) When is the summer holiday?

Do you know when the summer holiday is?

2) What time does the restaurant open?

Could you tell me what time the restaurant opens?

3) Where is the nearest pizza restaurant?

Could you tell me where the nearest pizza restaurant is?

4) How can I get to the bus station from here?

Could you tell me how I can get to the bus station from here?

5) What did you drink?

Could you tell me what you drank?

6) Does he like fried chicken?

Could you tell me if he like friend chicken?

7) When will he boil the eggs?

Could you tell me when he will boil the eggs?

Production: In pairs, write and practice a dialogue, asking for help in the street, using indirect questions.

A: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the Cali zoo is?

B: Yes, it’s that way. from here, you can take route A02 at the MIO and it will leave you at the zoo.

A: Thanks! I’ve only been in town a few days, so I really don’t know my way around yet.

B: Don't worry, enjoy with the animals

Mr Smith is teaching his students how to make a sponge cake. Read the dialogue and fill in the
table.

Mr Smith: Hello class! Today we are going to make a sponge cake! Can anyone tell me how to make a
sponge cake? … No one? Ok, that’s fine, we’ll learn today! Have you brought the ingredients?

Michael: Excuse me sir, can you tell me which ingredients I needed to bring?

Mr Smith: I told you last week! You needed to bring eggs, flour, milk and butter. Now, you need to beat the
eggs... yes, very good Jonathan… then mix all of the other ingredients together in a bowl… very nice Mary…
and after that you need to put the mixture on a baking tray, then bake it for 20 minutes in the oven. Next…

Michael: Sorry sir, mine doesn’t look very good. Do you know what I have done wrong?

Mr Smith: Michael, why did you add milk?? Anyway… when your cake has finished baking, you need to take
it out and put it on a cooling rack. (20 minutes later)

Mr Smith: Well done class, your cakes look great! Ermm… except yours Michael…

Food items Cooking methods Kitchen objects

Eggs beat the eggs bowl

Flour then mix all of the other baking tray

ingredients together in a bowl

Milk and butter after that you need to put the cooling rack.
mixture on a baking tray

Dialogue:

A. Hello, how are you? I´m a new citizen in the city and I know few about the city, Could you help me
please?
B. Hi, yes it’s ok
A. Well, Can you tell me what the best restaurant of the city is?
B. Of course, is on the fourth avenue, three blocks from here. Her name is Chacalacas
A. Oh nice, Do you know where the nearest subway station is?
B. Yes, is in front of the main bank on the second avenue.
A. Thanks, I have heard about a famous museum here, Can you tell me what time the museum opens?
B. Museum normally open at seven o’clock in the morning
A. Oh right, thanks for your help.
B. You’re welcome, enjoy your stay here.

Indirect question Direct question

Could you tell me where you went? Where did you go?
 Do you know what she wants? What does she want?

Could you tell me what you play? What do you play?

Do you know where she has studied? Where has she studied?

Could you tell me where the cake is? Where is the cake?

Select the correct option to make indirect questions from the WH-questions using the corresponding tense
using the information in the answer.

1. What time does the gym open?

a. Can you tell me what time the gym opens?
b. Can you tell me what time the gym opened?
c. Can you tell me what time does the gym open?

2. How much does this motorcycle cost?

a. Do you have any idea how much this motorcycle cost?
b. Do you have any idea how much this motorcycle costs?
c. Do you have any idea how much cost this motorcycle?

3. Has Barbara ever studied abroad?

a. Can you tell me if Barbara have ever studied abroad?
b. Can you tell me If Barbara has ever studied abroad?
c. Can you tell me if Barbara ever studied abroad?

4. Could you tell me if they spoke English?

a. What did they speak?
b. Did they speak English?
c. Did they spoke English?

5. Could tell me where Tom works?

a. Where is Tom?
b. Where do Tom work?
c. Where does Tom work?

6. Could you tell me when the party is?

a. When is the party?
b. When the party is?
c. When does the party?