LEVEL Advanced 1

UNIT LESSON
1

2 - RESTRUCTURING

Indirect questions

Use Form and Examples

Sometimes asking a direct or straightforward question can
come across as being rude or even aggressive. In these more
formal, delicate or difficult situations, it is best to use indirect
questions.
With indirect questions the word order after the question
word is the same as in affirmative sentences. Look at the
example below:
What is your name?
Could you tell me what your name is?

Students of English who have practised inverting the verb and

subject to form direct questions often struggle to avoid doing
the same with these indirect questions. A common mistake is
seen below:
Would you mind telling me what is your name? (Incorrect.)
Instead of:
Would you mind telling me what your name is? (Correct.)

For Yes/No questions, we use if followed by subject-verb

word order. Look again at the examples below:
Are you going to be late?
Do you know if you are going to be late?
Did he finish that report?
I’d like to know if he finished that report.

Again students often struggle not to invert the subject and

verb, so be careful:
Are we going to have to reapply for our jobs?
Do you mind telling us if are we going to have to reapply for our
jobs? (Incorrect.)
Do you mind telling us if we are going to have to reapply for our
jobs? (Correct.)