ASKING

QUESTIONS

indirect ways

INDIRECT QUESTIONSINDIRECT QUESTIONSWhen do I use them?When do I use them?

Direct questions are often considered rude when speaking to strangers. To be more polite we often use INDIRECT INDIRECT QUESTIONSQUESTIONS..

Indirect questions serve the same purpose as direct questions, but are considered more formal.

INDIRECT QUESTIONSINDIRECT QUESTIONSHow do I do it? How do I do it?

Use an introductory phrase followed by the question

itself in positive/negative sentence structure.

Connect the two phrases with the question word

(who, where, when, why …) or ‘if/whether’ in the

case the question is a ‘yes/no’ question.

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

INDIRECT QUESTIONSINDIRECT QUESTIONSExamples (I)Examples (I)

Direct question: how much do you earn?Indirect question: Could you tell me how much you earn?

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

Could you tell me how much you earn?

INDIRECT QUESTIONSINDIRECT QUESTIONSExamples (II)Examples (II)

Direct question: What is your worst habit? Indirect question: May I ask you what your worst habit is?

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

May I ask you what your worst habit is?

INDIRECT QUESTIONSINDIRECT QUESTIONSExamples (III)Examples (III)

Direct question: does he like partying?Indirect question: may I ask you if he likes partying?

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

May I ask you if/whether he likes partying?

INDIRECT QUESTIONSINDIRECT QUESTIONSMost common phrasesMost common phrases

Do you know … ? Can/Could you tell me … ? Can I ask . . .? May I ask you . . .? Do you happen to know ...? I wonder / was wondering if you could tell me… I wonder if you would mind telling me. . . Would you mind telling me . . .? I’d be interested to know … I'd like to know ...