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Indirect Questions
Indirect questions are polite, longer forms of normal questions. They can also be used to
ask about sensitive information.

Examples:

Where's the department store? - Direct question

Could you tell me where the department store is? - Indirect question

What's his name? - Direct question

Do you know what his name is? - Indirect question

Indirect questions are formed of two parts: a polite expression and a question that
has no subject/verb inversion like a normal question.

Examples

Where's the post office? - Direct question

Do you know where the post office is? - Indirect question

The question is not "...where is the post office?" - don't invert the subject and verb like a
normal question.

What's the time? - Direct question

Do you have any idea what the time is? - Indirect question

Indirect questions do not use the auxiliary verb ‘do’.

Examples:

When does the next train arrive? - Direct question

Do you know when the next train arrives? - Indirect question

Do you know when does the next train arrive? - Incorrect

When does the restaurant close? - Direct question

Could you tell me when the restaurant closes? - Indirect question

Could you tell me when does the restaurant close? – Incorrect

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Indirect Questions
Complete the indirect questions using the correct structure.

1. Where's the station?

Can you tell me _____________________________________________________________ ?

2. Are you coming to the party?

Can you let me know if _______________________________________________________ ?

3. How does it work?

Can you explain ____________________________________________________________ ?

4. What's the matter?

Please tell me ______________________________________________________________ ?

5. Where are you from?

I'd like to know ______________________________________________________________ ?

6. How long does it take to get there?

Do you know _______________________________________________________________ ?

7. What are you doing?

Do you have any idea ________________________________________________________ ?

8. What time are you leaving?

Do you know _______________________________________________________________ ?

9. Does Annie know about computers?

I wonder whether ___________________________________________________________ ?

10. Excuse me. How do you get to the post office from here?

Could you tell us ____________________________________________________________ ?

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Indirect Questions
Working with a partner, re-write the questions in the correct word order.

1. Would you mind telling me the is bank where?

2. Could you tell me the station way to police the?

3. Do you know if you money happy makes?

4. Can you remember who to you taught count?

5. Do you think saving is good money a idea?

6. Do you know what previous was the teacher's job?

7. I’d be interested to hear questions of these you what think?

8. I’d like to know an question to indirect make how?

9. Can you tell me an to class how A get in this?

Now, ask and answer the questions with your partner.

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