NAME:

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Direct and Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are polite longer forms of direct questions. We use them when
talking to a person we don't know very well or in professional situations.

Examples:

Where is the department store? - Direct question

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

What is 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 direct question.

Examples:

Where is the post office? - Direct question

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

What is the time? - Direct question

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

Indirect questions do not use the auxiliary verbs 'do', 'does' or 'did'.

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 did the cinema close down? - Direct question

Could you tell me when the cinema closed down? - Indirect question

Could you tell me when did the cinema close down? – Incorrect

When the direct question is a yes or no question, we use 'if' and the word order of a normal
positive sentence.

Is the restaurant closing now? - Direct question

Can you tell me if the restaurant is closing now? - Indirect question

Does Sophia live in New York? - Direct question

Do you know if Sophia lives in New York? - Indirect question

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ESL / EFL RESOURCES Direct and Indirect Questions

A. Read the direct questions and change them into indirect questions using the polite
expressions.

1. W
 here is the station? Could you tell me ...................................................
where the station is ?

2. A
 re you coming to the party? Could you let me know ............................................
if you are coming to the party ?

3. H
 ow does it work? Could you explain ...................................................
how it works ?

4. H
 as Lucy been to Mexico? Could you tell me if lucy has been to mexico ?
...................................................

5. W
 here are you from? I'd like to know ......................................................
where you are from ?

6. H
 ow long does it take to get there? Do you know .........................................................
how long it takes to get there ?

7. W
 hat are you doing? what you are doing ?
Do you have any idea .............................................

8. W
 hat time are you leaving? what time you are leaving ?
Do you know .........................................................

9. I s he a lawyer? if he is a lawyer ?
Could you tell me ...................................................

10. D
 o you drink coffee? if you drink coffee ?
I was wondering .....................................................

B. Rewrite the indirect questions in the correct word order.

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

..................................................................................................................................

2. I'd like to know an question to indirect make how.

..................................................................................................................................

3. Could you tell me an to class this how 'A' get in?

..................................................................................................................................

4. Do you know what like tomorrow the be weather what will?

..................................................................................................................................

5. Could you tell me you been how English have long studying?

..................................................................................................................................

6. I was wondering free your do what time you in?

..................................................................................................................................

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

..................................................................................................................................

C. Now, ask and answer the questions with a partner.

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