Indirect questions
Polite questions like 'Could you tell me where the station is?' – and the word order change.
Indirect questions are how we ask politely – in emails, in shops, in Speaking. The trick is the word order: after the introduction, the question becomes a normal sentence.
How they work
Useful patterns
How it comes up in Part 4
In Part 4 you complete the second sentence with the key word, so that it means the same as the first one (2–5 words).
KNOW
Do you know what time the museum opens?
Indirect question: no 'does', and 'opens' gets -s.
WHETHER
Could you tell me whether the shop is still open?
Yes / no question → whether / if.
IDEA
I have no idea where Anna lives.
Have no idea = don't know.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Can you tell me where is the bank?✓ Can you tell me where the bank is?Indirect question → normal word order.
- ✗ Do you know what time does it start?✓ Do you know what time it starts?No do / does in an indirect question.
- ✗ I wonder is he coming.✓ I wonder if he is coming.Yes / no → if or whether.
After 'Do you know…', 'Could you tell me…' or 'I wonder…', write the rest like a normal sentence: subject first, then verb – and remove do, does and did.
Quick check
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the key word and write 2–5 words.
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