Grammar: Indirect Questions - Uses and Examples
- Oct 22, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
What are Direct and Indirect Questions in English?
🎯 Indirect Questions sound more polite and formal.
We usually use them for:
making enquiries,
making polite requests, with people we don't know well, etc.
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2. Direct vs Indirect Questions Uses & Examples
(Direct Question)
e.g. Where is the nearest bus stop?
(Indirect Question)
e.g. Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?
3. How to form Indirect Questions?
We usually add these phrases to make the question sound polite :
Do you know...?
Can you tell me...?
Could you tell me...?
🎯 Vocabulary Check!
'could' is a little more formal than 'can'
4. How to change a Direct to an Indirect Question?
We'll be looking at the grammar rules of how to make an Indirect Question for the following:
1️⃣ Indirect Wh- Questions with - 'is', 'are'
2️⃣ Indirect Wh- Questions with - 'do', 'does', 'did'
3️⃣ Indirect Yes / No Questions with - 'Is...?', 'Do..?', 'Can...?
Let's go step-by-step for each of the above in the following examples:
(a) Wh-Questions with 'is' , 'are'
Wh-Questions with 'is'
(Direct Question) e.g. Where is the nearest bus stop?
(Indirect Question)
e.g. Do you know + where + the nearest bus stop is?
❶ ❷ ❸
🎯 How to change to Indirect form:
1️⃣ (add the phrase),
2️⃣ (wh-question),
3️⃣ (change verb order 'is' to after the Subject)
(Indirect Question)
👉 Do you know where the nearest bus stop is? ✅
(Common Mistake)
❌ Do you know where is the nearest bus stop?❌
Wh-Questions with 'are'
(Direct Question)
e.g. How much are those shirts?
(Indirect Question)
e.g. Can you tell me + how much + those shirts are?
❶ ❷ ❸
(add the phrase) (wh-question) (change verb order after subject)
🎯 How to change to Indirect form:
❶ (add the phrase),
❷ (wh-question),
❸ (change verb order 'are' to after the Subject)
(Indirect Question)
👉 Can you tell me how much those shirts are? ✅
(Common Mistake)
❌ Can you tell me how much are those shirts? ❌
(b) Wh-Questions with 'do', 'does', 'did'
Wh-Questions with - 'do'
👉(Direct Question)
e.g. How often do they come here?
👉 (Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Could you tell me + how often + they come here?
❶ ❷ ❸
🎯 How to change to Indirect form with 'do':
1️⃣ (add the phrase),
2️⃣ (wh-question),
3️⃣ (drop 'do')
- (Indirect Question) Could you tell me how often they come here? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Could you tell me how often do they come here?]❌
Wh-Question with - 'does'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. When does the mall open?
🎯 How to change to Indirect form with 'does':
1️⃣ add the phrase
2️⃣ wh-question,
3️⃣ drop 'does',
4️⃣ verb + 's'
- (Indirect Question)
👉 Do you know + when + the mall + opens?
❶ ❷ ❸ ❹
(Indirect Question) Do you know when the mall opens? ✅
(Common Mistake) [Do you know when does the mall open?]❌
iii) Wh-Questions with - 'did'
(Direct Question)
e.g. What time did the last train leave?
🎯 How to change to Indirect form with 'did':
1️⃣ add the phrase,
2️⃣ + wh-question,
3️⃣ drop 'did',
4️⃣ change verb to past simple form
(Indirect Question)
👉 Could you tell me + what time + the last train left?
❶ ❷ ❸ ❹
(Indirect Question) Could you tell me what time the last train left? ✅
(Common Mistake) [Could you tell me what time did the last train leave?]❌
(c) Yes / No Questions with 'Is ..?, 'Do..?, 'Can..?'
Yes / No Questions - 'Is ...?'
(Direct Question)
e.g. Is Eddy at the office?
👉(Indirect Question)
e.g. >> Could you tell me + if + Eddy is + at the office?
❶ ❷ ❸
e.g. >> Could you tell me + whether + Eddy is + at the office?
❶ ❷ ❸
🎯 How to change to Indirect form 'Is...?':
1️⃣ add the 'phrase',
2️⃣ add 'if ' or 'whether',
3️⃣ verb 'is' after Subject
(Indirect Question) Could you tell me if / whether Eddy is at the office?✅
(Common Mistake) [Could you tell me if / whether is Eddy at the office?]❌
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ii. Yes / No Question with - 'Do..?'
- (Direct Question)
e.g. Do the children walk to school?
- (Indirect Question)
Example: Do you know + if + the children walk to school?
Do you know + whether + the children walk to school?
❶ ❷ ❸
🎯 How to change to Indirect form 'Do...?':
1️⃣ add the phrase,
2️⃣ add if or whether
3️⃣ drop 'do'
Example:
- (Indirect Question) Do you know if / whether they know each other? ✅
- (Common Mistake) Do you know if / whether do they know each other?❌
iii. Yes/ No Question with - 'Can...?'
(Direct Question)
e.g. Can the students knit?
(Indirect Question)
>> Could you tell me + if + the students can knit?
❶ ❷ ❸
>> Could you tell me + whether + the students can knit?
❶ ❷ ❸
🎯 How to change to Indirect form 'Can...?':
1️⃣ add the 'phrase',
2️⃣ add 'if ' or 'whether',
3️⃣ 'can' is after Subject
- (Indirect Question) Could you tell me if / whether they can knit? ✅
- (Common Mistake) [Could you tell me if / whether can they knit?]❌
5. Indirect Questions - More Conversation Sentences
Example:
(a) - At the Info Desk
👨🏻💼A: Hello, how may I help you?
🧕B: Oh, could you tell me what the theme park opens?
👨🏻💼A: Sure, it opens at 9.00 on weekdays.
🧕B: Do you know if I could get tickets there?
👨🏻💼A: Yes, you could. But it'll be cheaper to buy them online.
🧕B: Hmm...I think I'll do that. Do you know how often the buses leave for the park?
👨🏻💼A: The hotel shuttle service leaves every 15 minutes. The first one leaves at 8.00 am.
🧕B: Thank you so much for your help.
(b) - At the office
👩🦰 A: Meg, Mike wants to see you and your team.
👩💼B: Do you know why he wants to see us?
👩🦰 A: Maybe it’s about tomorrow’s event.
(c) - At the hotel reception
🧕Guest: Do you know if the shops are open tomorrow?
👨🏻💼Staff A: I’m not sure. Let me find out for you….Marie, do you know whether the shops are open tomorrow?
👩💼Staff B: The shops close early tomorrow at 3pm. The street parade starts at 5pm.
🧕Guest : Thank you. Could you show us where the train station is?
👨🏻💼Staff A: Sure. Here, let me show you...
🎬 6. Let's Recap!
i. When to Use Indirect Questions & Example
Indirect Questions form are used when:
✔️ making enquiries,
✔️ making polite requests,
✔️ with people we don't know well, etc.
ii. We usually add these phrases to make the question sound polite or formal:
- Do you know...?
- Can you tell me...?
- Could you tell me...?
📌 Review the rules!
a. Indirect Wh-Questions with - 'is' , 'are'
✅ (change verb order to after Subject)
b. Indirect Wh-Questions with - 'do', 'does', 'did'
✅ (drop 'do')
✅ (drop 'does' , verb + s)
✅ (drop 'did' , verb to (past simple)
c. Indirect Yes / No Questions - 'Is ...?' 'Do..?' 'Can...?'
✅ (add 'if ' or 'whether')
✅ (verb 'is' after Subject)
💬 7. Over to You!
Change the following to Indirect Questions.
1. Excuse me, what is the time?
...................................................................
2. Sir, is there a bookstore in the next town?
....................................................................
3. Do they sell flowers at the train station?
....................................................................
4. What time does the movie start?
....................................................................
5. When did the last train leave?
....................................................................
💬 Polite Questions for Everyday English
Use these question starters to sound more natural and polite in English:
👉 Do you know…? (casual)
👉 Can you tell me…? (neutral)
👉 Could you tell me…? (more polite)
☕ 1. Everyday Life
Do you know…
Do you know where I can get good coffee around here?
Do you know if this café has Wi-Fi?
Can you tell me…
Can you tell me what time the supermarket closes?
Can you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?
Could you tell me…
Could you tell me how to use this app?
Could you tell me where I can buy groceries nearby?
✈️ 2. Travel & Directions
Do you know…
Do you know how to get to the airport?
Do you know if this area is safe at night?
Can you tell me…
Can you tell me which train goes to the city centre?
Can you tell me how long the journey takes?
Could you tell me…
Could you tell me where I can buy tickets?
Could you tell me the best way to get there?
🍽️ 3. Food & Dining
Do you know…
Do you know what this dish is called?
Do you know if they have vegetarian options?
Can you tell me…
Can you tell me what you recommend?
Can you tell me what’s popular here?
Could you tell me…
Could you tell me if this dish is spicy?
Could you tell me what ingredients are in this?
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🛍️ 4. Shopping & Services
Do you know…
Do you know where I can find a good hair salon?
Do you know if they accept credit cards?
Can you tell me…
Can you tell me if this is on sale?
Can you tell me where the fitting room is?
Could you tell me…
Could you tell me what size this comes in?
Could you tell me if there’s a discount today?
💼 5. Work & Professional English
Do you know…
Do you know when the meeting starts?
Do you know where I can find the files?
Can you tell me…
Can you tell me who is in charge of this project?
Can you tell me what the deadline is?
Could you tell me…
Could you tell me how to submit this report?
Could you tell me what I should prepare?
🎯 Quick Practice
👉 Complete the questions:
Could you tell me where __________?
Do you know if __________?
Can you tell me what time __________?
👉 Ask a partner:
1 question about food 🍽️
1 question about travel ✈️
1 question about daily life ☕
✏️ Share your answers in the comments below ⬇️
✨ Tip for Learners
✔ Use “Do you know…?” with friends or in casual situations
✔ Use “Can you tell me…?” in everyday conversations
✔ Use “Could you tell me…?” when you want to sound more polite
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