Grammar: Indirect Questions - Uses and Examples

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.

📕 Related post

• 👉 How to Ask Questions in English:WH-, Yes/No, Question Tags etc

  
  

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📕 Related post

• 👉 9 Common WH-Questions in English:With Examples + Easy Tips

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?]❌

📕Learn more

• 👉 Yes/No Questions in English: Learn to Ask & Answer Confidently

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?

📩 Download Free PDF

• 🔗 Questions Practice Worksheet

  
  

🛍️ 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:

1. Could you tell me where __________?

2. Do you know if __________?

3. 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

🎓 Keep learning

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• 👉Superlative Adjectives Explained: Rules + Examples

• 👉Emily's Enchanted Cottage: Learn Adjectives Through Fun Story

• 👉Prepositions Made Simple: Speak English Naturally

• 👉Phrasal Verbs for Daily Life: Speak Like a Native

🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel Playlist:

• 🔗 English Tenses Made Simple: Lessons & Stories

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