Direct Questions: informal/casual/less polite/more direct

Structure
same as simple present:
(wh-word) + do/does + subject + verb (root)?

(wh-word) + am/is/are + subject + noun/adjective/preposition/verb-ing?

where does she work?

What time does the train leave?
How much does Peter earn?
Do you like reading?
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Where is she from?

Where is London Street?
What is her name?
What is he doing?
Are they happy?
Why are they angry?
What are you thinking about?
Are you enjoying your holiday?

What should I write?

What can I do?
Why must I be there?
Indirect Questions: formal/polite/longer/consist of an introductory phrase
Introductory phrase:
 Could you tell me…
 Do you know…
 I was wondering…
 Would it be possible…
 Do you have any idea…
 I’m curious to know…

Structure
Same as a positive sentence: subject + verb….
Indirect questions never use do/does/did

Could you tell me where she works?

Could you tell me what time the train leaves?
Could you tell me how much Peter earns?
Could you tell me if you like reading?
Could you tell me what you enjoy doing in your free time?

Could you tell me where she is from?

Could you tell me where London street is?
Could you tell me what her name is?
Could you tell me what he is doing?
Could you tell me if they are happy?
Could you tell me why they are angry?
Could you tell me what you are thinking about?
Could you tell me if you are enjoying your holiday?

Could you tell me what I should write?

Could you tell me what I can do?
Could you tell me why I must be there?
Could you tell me what her name is?
*Note: the subject of the entire question is actually you.
Within the noun clause her name acts as the subject and is the verb.

If the direct question is a Yes/No question (so without a question word) then
the indirect question will have an “if/whether”
Does Gabrielle live in London?
Do you know if Gabrielle lives in London?
Do you enjoy exploring new places?
I’m curious to know if you enjoy exploring new places?

Where does she work? – direct question

Could you tell me where she works? – indirect question
Subject Questions vs Object Questions
Subject questions: never have a helping verb do/does/did
The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that does the action. In subject
questions we don’t know the person or thing who does the action, and we
want to find out. We are asking about the subject of the sentence.
Structure
(Question word) + subject + verb in the simple present/simple past + object?

Who wants some orange juice?

Mike and Sarah do!
Who made the sandwich?
Sarah made it.
What causes cancer?
Smoking causes cancer.

*Who/what is the subject of the sentence. It refers to an unknown or

unspecified person that we want to find out about.

Object Questions: always need a helping verb do/does/did

The direct object of a sentence is the person or thing that receives the action of
the verb. In object questions we don’t know who receives the action and we
want to find out.
Structure
(Question word) + helping verb + subject + verb (root)?

What do you want to drink?

We want some orange juice.

What did Daniel make?

Daniel made a sandwich.

What does smoking cause?

Smoking causes cancer.
By analysing the structure of the question and identifying the focus, whether it
is on the subject or the object, you can determine if it is a subject question or
an object question.