INDIRECT

QUESTIONS
 FORMATION AND RULES
• When should we use indirect questions?
– When we want to sound more polite.
• What makes indirect questions different?
– They have an introductory phrase.
– Their form is SUBJECT + VERB, and no
auxiliaries.
• Can you give an example?
– DIRECT: Where do you live? / What time is it?
– INDIRECT: Can you tell me where you
live? Do you know what time it is?
 INTRODUCTORY
• PHRASES
Do you know...?
• Could you tell me...?
• Can I ask you...?
• Do you mind
me asking...?
• Would you mind ...where you live ?*
telling me...?

*IF THE PHRASE IS

A QUESTION FORM,
USE A QUESTION
MARK
 INTRODUCTORY
•
PHRASES
I wonder...
• I was wondering...
• I don’t know...
• I’d like to know... ...where you live.*
• I need to know...
• Please tell me...
*THEY ARE
NOT QUESTIONS,
SO NO QUESTION
MARK.
 PRACTIC
Transform the sentences from direct into
indirect
E
DIRECT INDIRECT
(auxiliaries/verb+subject) (no
• auxiliaries/subject+verb)
•
Where do you live? ... where you live (?)
• Where is the school? • ...where the school is (?)
• How old are you? • ...how old you are (?)
• How much is this? • ...how much this is (?)
• When is the next bus? • ...when the next bus is (?)
• Where were you born? • ...where you were born (?)
• What are your hobbies? • ...what your hobbies are (?)
• Who are you? • ...who you are (?)
 Yes/no
•
questions
If we are dealing with …you must use
a yes/no question… “IF/WHETHER” after
the introductory
phrase.
• Is this the
Language School? • Can you tell me
if/whether this is
•Do you like vegetables?
the Language
(the answer is yes or no, School?
so this is a yes/no • I wonder if/whether
question)
you like vegetables.
 EXCEPTIO
for YES/NO
N
questions
contains a verb of We don’t use IF/WHETHER
When the introductory phrase
opinion…
• Do you think…? • Do you think if it will rain?
• Do you believe…? • Do you believe if he
• Are you sure…? is guilty?
• Are you sure if this is
the right bus?
 PRACTIC
E
Transform the sentences from direct into
indirect
• DIRECT
Do you like football?
• Does your sister play tennis?
• Do buses arrive late?
• Do people like reality TV?
• Do we have to pay for this?
• Can I go to the toilet?
• Do I have to wait here?
• Can you please be quiet?
•INDIRECT
...if you like football
• ...if your sister plays tennis
• ...if buses arrive late
• ...if people like reality TV
• ...if we have to pay for this
• ...if I can go to the toilet
• ...if I have to wait here
• ...if you can please be quiet
» (?)