Indirect questions

By Mr. Contreras
 examples
• How were the stones moved?
• Why was Stonehenge built?

• Indirect questions
• We want to know how the stones were
moved?
• We want to know why stonehenge was built?
 Direct questions – "wh" questions

• What is your name?

• Why do you want this job?
• How much do you earn?
• How soon can you start?
• When did you see the advertisement?
• Where do you live?
• Which newspaper did you see the advertisement
in?
• Who gave you my name?
After the "wh word" (what, why, how, when,
etc) comes the auxiliary (do, does, did or can),
then the subject (you) , then the rest of the
question.
• Note: if 'who', 'which' or 'what' are the subject of
the question, you don’t need an auxiliary.
• For example, "What happened?" Not "What did
happen?" The thing that happened is what – the
subject of the question.
• "Who saw you?" Someone saw you – who was
it?
• Compare with "Who did you see?" You saw
someone – who was it?)
 Indirect questions in English

• If you want to ask a question that is quite

sensitive, try using one of the indirect phrases
below:
Can you tell me…
Could you tell me…
I'd be interested to hear…
I'd like to know…
Would you mind telling me…
do you know…
• These questions are followed by either about, a
"wh word" or if. Then you add the subject, then the
sentence.
• You don't need an 'auxiliary', such as 'do', 'does',
'did', or 'can'.
• "Can you tell me what you like most about your
present job?" Not "Can you tell me what do you
like?"
• "I'd be interested to hear about your experiences."
• "Would you mind telling me if you have applied for
a similar position before?"
 Rewrite. Use indirect questions
• What is it called in English?
• What time is it?
• What's Brazil like?
• How do you do it?
• Who did you meet at the party?
• What happened to them?
• When was the film produced?