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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INDIRECT QUESTIONS
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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