Indirect Questions

Indirect or embedded questions are questions which have an introductory question before them. The
indirect question does not have a question form, i.e. they have the subject before the verb.
Introductory question: Could you tell me…? Do you know…?

Wh-questions.
Where is the post office? When does the film start?

Could you tell me where the post office is? Do you know when the film starts?

Yes/No questions. These questions use if or whether.

Is this the right street?

Do you know if/whether this is the right street.

We prefer whether before or, especially in a formal style to emphasize that a choice has to be made.
Do you know whether she is coming by road or by air?
When do we use indirect questions?
When we want the question to sound more polite. We can use introductory questions/statements
such as:
Would you mind telling me…
May I ask you..
I wonder / I was wondering…
I’d like to know…

Reported questions and answers.

The same structure is used to report questions (reported speech) and the answers to questions.
Peter: Where is Mary staying?

You (reporting what Peter asked): Peter asked where Mary was staying.
You (giving an answer): I know where Mary is staying. She’s staying at the Royal Hotel.
 Exercise 1: Indirect questions. Rewrite each question beginning as shown.
1. What’s the time?
Could you tell me ...................................................................………………………………………?
2. What does this mean?
Do you know…...........................................................……………………..………………………………?
3. How much does this cost?
Could you tell me ..........................................................………………….………………………………?
4. What time does the museum open?
Do you know ..........................................................…………………………………………………………?
5. Am I in the right seat?
Could you tell me..........................................................……………………………………………………?
6. Where’s Asham Street?
Do you know ..........................................................………………………………………?
7. Is this Trafalgar Square?
Could you tell me ..........................................................………………………………………?
8. When does this bus leave?
Do you know ..........................................................………………………………………?

Exercise 2. Reporting questions. Rewrite each sentence in reported speech, beginning as shown.
1. How much did you pay for your bike? I asked Steve.
I asked Steve………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….
2. Have you done your homework, or not? my mother asked me.
My mother asked me…………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………
3. Where have you come from? he asked.
He asked………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………
4. Do you speak Italian? the tourist guide asked me.
The tourist guide asked me ………………………………………………………………………………….…………………
5. When is your birthday? I asked Sue
I asked Sue ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Online Exercises:
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-exercise-1.html
Review: Subject and Object Questions

Exercise 3. Write a question about the underlined information in each sentence.

1. Joe left the door open.

................................................................................................................
2. I gave the book to Valerie.
................................................................................................................
3. Heather phoned Harry.
................................................................................................................
4. Heather phoned Harry.
................................................................................................................
5. Gaudí designed this monument.
................................................................................................................
6. Gaudí designed this monument.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………