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What are Indirect Questions in eng

Indirect questions are more formal and polite alternatives to direct questions, often used in professional or unfamiliar contexts. They typically involve an introductory phrase followed by a question word and a positive sentence structure, avoiding auxiliary verbs in the indirect form. Common phrases for indirect questions include 'Could you tell me...' and 'I was wondering...'.

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4 views

What are Indirect Questions in eng

Indirect questions are more formal and polite alternatives to direct questions, often used in professional or unfamiliar contexts. They typically involve an introductory phrase followed by a question word and a positive sentence structure, avoiding auxiliary verbs in the indirect form. Common phrases for indirect questions include 'Could you tell me...' and 'I was wondering...'.

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What are Indirect Questions?

Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask to friends, family members,
and people who we know well. You can form direct questions using the QUASM modelthat
we learned last lesson.
Example of a direct question:
“Where’s the bathroom?”
Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a
person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little
different.
Example of an indirect question:
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”
Phrases for Indirect Questions
1. Could you tell me…
2. Do you know…
3. I was wondering…
4. Do you have any idea…
5. I’d like to know…
6. Would it be possible…
7. Is there any chance…
Direct and Indirect Questions in English: Examples
Direct: Where is Market Street?
Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?
In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).

Direct What time does the bank open?


Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?
In indirect questions, we don’t use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did. Also, you can see that
the verb is “open” in the direct question, and “opens” in the indirect question.

Direct: Why did you move to Europe?


Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe.
Again, there is no auxiliary verb did in the indirect question. In fact, this indirect question
isn’t even a question – it’s more of a statement that invites the other person to give more
information.

Direct: How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?


Indirect: Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?
The auxiliary verbs have and has can be used in both the direct and indirect questions –
but in the direct question, “has” comes before the subject (he), and in the indirect question,
“has” comes after the subject.

Direct: How much does this motorcycle cost?


Indirect: I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs.
To form the indirect question, remove does and change “cost” to “costs.”

Direct: Can you finish the project by tomorrow?


Indirect: Would it be possible for you to finish the project by tomorrow?
For direct questions with can, we can use the phrase “would it be possible…” to make it
indirect.

Direct: Can we change the meeting to Thursday?


Indirect: Is there any chance we could change the meeting to Thursday?
“Is there any chance…” is another option for forming indirect questions with can.

Yes/No Direct Questions –> “If” in Indirect Questions


If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who,
when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.
Direct: Does Tom like Italian food?
Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food?
Direct: Are your parents joining us for dinner?
Indirect: Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner?
Direct: Do they speak English?
Indirect: I was wondering if they speak English.
Direct: Has Barbara ever studied abroad?
Indirect: Do you have any idea if Barbara’s ever studied abroad?
Direct: Do you plan on traveling this summer?
Indirect: I’d like to know if you plan on traveling this summer.

ndirect Questions for PolitenessPresentation Transcript

1. INDIRECT QUESTIONS Maria Luisa Ochoa Huelva University

2. Indirect Questions

1. * Direct questions are often considered rude when speaking to strangers.

2. * To be more polite we often use INDIRECT QUESTION FORMS . Indirect questions serve the
same purpose as direct questions, but are considered more formal.

3. Indirect Questions using wh-words

1. FORMULA :

2.  Introductory phrase +  question word ( what, when, where, why, which … ) +  subordinate clause
(positive sentence structure)

3. Direct question : Where can I find El Prado Museum?

4. Could you tell me where I can find El Prado Museum ?

5. Introductory question subordinate

6. phrase word clause

7. When using an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed by the question itself in
positive sentence structure .

4. Indirect Questions with yes/no questions

1. FORMULA :

2.  Introductory phrase +  if/whether ( what, when, where, why, which … ) +  subordinate clause
(positive sentence).

3. Direct question : Are you travelling on business ?

4. Could you tell me if/whether you are travelling ?

5. Introductory if/whether subordinate

6. phrase clause
7. When using an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed by the question itself in
positive sentence structure .

5. Indirect Questions

1. Here are some of the most common phrases used for asking indirect questions.

2. Do you know … ?

3. Can/Could you tell me … ?

4. Do you happen to know ...?

5. I wonder / was wondering …

6. I wonder if you´d mind telling me. . .

7. Would you mind telling me . . .?

8. Can I ask . . .?

9. May I ask you . . .?

10. I'd like to know ...

6. Examples

1. Direct question:

2. Where's the tourist information office?

3. Indirect question:

4. Could you tell me where the tourist information office is?

5. -------------------------ooooo--------------------------

6. Direct question:

7. Do you like flying?

8. Indirect question:

9. Could you tell me if you like flying?

7. Can I ask you when you are going to invite me to go to the USA? When are you going to invite me to
go to the USA?

8. Would you mind telling me what the purpose of your visit is? What is the purpose of your visit?

9. Can you tell me how you got to the airport? How did you get to the airport?

10. Answers to Exercise practice.page 19

1. …… .what the time is?


2. …… .when the next flight to Amsterdam is?

3. …… if this is your suitcase?

4. … .. When the flight from Istambul arriveS?

5. … .how many times a year you fly.

6. … . if you have got any seats on the ten ….?

7. … . if there is a phone near here.

8. … . why there are no trains on Sundays?

11.
1. Adapted by M. Luisa Ochoa from

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