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INDIRECT QUESTIONSUNIT 7, LESSON C

INTRODUCTION.

Imagine that your friend is starting a new job today. She is traveling to workby bus. She takes the bus 3 to Olmedo Street . When she leaves the station,her cell phone signal fails. So, she asks a stranger for information:

1. Excuse me, where is MacDougal Street?2. Can you tell me where MacDougal Street is?

You just viewed a question asked in two ways. Did you see the difference?

The first was a direct question; the second was an indirect question. Intoday’s class, we will talk about indirect questions.

What's an indirect question?

• Indirect questions are a more polite way to ask for information or makerequests. We often use them when asking something of strangers or peoplewe do not know well, including coworkers. We also use them when askingfor favors from friends or when we want to avoid sounding demanding.

• When we make requests in English, we usually use the modal verbs can,could and would. We also use these modals to begin many indirectquestions.

Here are a few common question phrases for indirect questions:Can/Could you tell me…?Do you know…?Would you mind…?Do you have any idea…?Would it be possible…?

Forming indirect questions

To form an indirect question, we start with phrases like these. Then, we adddirect questions to them, but the word order changes.

• Here’s the direct question:Where is Sucre Street?

1. So, to form an indirect question, again start with an indirect questionphrase, such as “Can you tell me…?”

2. Then, add one of the question words: where, what, when, who, why orhow. We call these “wh-question” words.

• And the indirect question:Can you tell me where Sucre Street is?

Sucre Street is?

Examples of Indirect QuestionsAn indirect question can be embedded in a statement, another question, or anorder.

• I wonder whether Anne is happy.

(The embedded direct question is "Is Anne happy?". This is a direct questionwithin a statement, i.e., within a declarative sentence.)

• Do you know if anyone was listening?

(The embedded direct question is "Was anyone listening?". This is a directquestion within a question, i.e., within an interrogative sentence.)

• Please find out what time the train is due.

(The embedded direct question is "What time is the train due?". This is a directquestion within an order, i.e., within an imperative sentence.)

https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/declarative_sentence.htm

https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/interrogative_sentence.htm

https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/imperative_sentence.htm

1. “Yes or no” questionsSome indirect questions do not contain wh-question words. These are direct “yes or no”questions that we convert into indirect questions. For example:

Has the game started yet?

That is a “yes or no” question. To form these into indirect questions, we start with anindirect question phrase, such as “Do you know…?” and then begin the noun clause with ifor whether.

Notice that, in the indirect example, the verb has and subject appear together, as it would in a statement.

IMPPORTANT POINTS ABOUT YES / NO QUESTIONS 1. When the direct question is a yes-no question, the indirect question willstart with if or whether.

2. We don't usually need to change the tense of the verb.

Verb Tense Direct Question Indirect Question

Present simple with“Be”

Is he Spanish? Can you tell me if he is Spanish?

Present continuous Is the restaurant closing now? Can you tell me if the restaurant is

closing now?

Present perfect Has Lucy been to Mexico? Can you tell me if Lucy has been

to Mexico?

Past perect Had she found this job when

she moved here?

Can you tell me if she had found

this job when she moved here?

Future simple with

“Will”

Will she start her new job next

week?

Can you tell me if she will start

her new job next week?

2. “Yes / no” questions with tenses that use do / does / did

Sometimes you want to make an indirect question using the present simple orthe past simple of any verb except “Be”. These tenses make direct questions byusing “do / does / did”. When we want to make indirect ‘”yes / no” questionsusing these tenses, we need “if” and we don't need “do / does / did”.

VERB TENSE DIRECT QUESTION INDIRECT QUESTION

Present simple Does David live in London? Can you tell me if David

lives in London?

Past simple Did Amanda call John

yesterday?

Can you tell me if

Amanda called John

yesterday?

Wh - Questions


Present simple with“Be”

Why is he unhappy? Can you tell me why he is

unhappy?

Present continuous When is the restaurant closing? Can you tell me when the

restaurant is closing?

Present perfect Where has Lucy been? Can you tell me where Lucy has

been?

Past perect Why had she quit her job

before she moved here?

Can you tell me why she had quit

her job before she moved here?

Future simple with“Will”

When will she start her new

job?

Can you tell me when she will

start her new job?

1. In the same way, we use the question word and the word order of a normal positive sentence to make

indirect Wh-questions. Again, we also don't usually need to change the tense of the verb.

2. To change a direct question to an indirect question, you just add “if” and change the word order back to anormal positive sentence.

The embedded direct wh-questions

When the direct question starts with a question word like how, what, when,where, which, who, whose, or why (called interrogative pronouns orinterrogative adjectives), the indirect question will start with the questionword, but the word order is like a statement not like a question.

• I'm asking what the time is.

(The embedded direct question is "What time is it?". Notice that the indirect question hasthe word order "the time is" (i.e., subject + verb) not "is the time" (i.e., verb + subject). Inother words, an indirect question has the same word order as a statement, not aquestion.)

• I'm asking where you are going.(The embedded direct question is "Where are you going?". The word order for the indirectquestion is "you are going", i.e., subject + verb.)

https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/direct_question.htm

Wh – Questions for tenses with “do / does / did”


Present simple Where does David live? Can you tell me where David

lives?

Past simple Why did Amanda call John

yesterday?

Can you tell me why Amanda

called John yesterday?

Sometimes you want to make an indirect 'wh' question using the presentsimple or the past simple of any verb except 'be'. Usually these tenses makequestions by using “do / does / did”. However, when we want to make indirectWh-questions using these tenses, we don't need “do / does / did”. Instead, weuse a question word and then normal positive sentence word order.

Indirect questions areclassified as noun clauses.

(A noun clause is a multi-word noun that features asubject and a verb.)

Indirect Questions Are Noun Clauses.

Common issues related to indirect questions: 1. Don't use a question mark with a non-question.The most common mistake with indirect questions is using a question mark at the end of a sentence that isn't a question.

• She needs to know where you're going?• Tell the staff if you feel cold?• Mark is trying to determine whether he's allergic to cats?These are not questions. There should be no question marks.)

Before using a question mark, make sure the whole sentence is a question.

• Does she need to know where you're going?• Will you tell the staff if you feel cold?• Is Mark trying to determine whether he's allergic cats?

2. Use "whether" unless you're presenting a condition.

These two sentences are both grammatically sound, but they mean different things.

• Tell the staff if you need a seat.

(This means tell the staff only if you need a seat. In other words, needing a seat is acondition that needs to be true before the staff are told. This is called a conditionalsentence.)

• Tell the staff whether you need a seat.

(This means tell the staff about your seating needs. There are two alternatives:needing a seat and not needing a seat. The staff are to be told in either case. Inother words, there is no condition that needs to be true.)

Often "if" and "whether" are interchangeable when heading an indirect questionbut bear this point in mind when choosing between them. Remember that if you'restating a condition, use "if." If you're not, use "whether."

3. Get the word order right.Remember that the word order in an indirect question is the same as for adeclarative sentence and not an interrogative sentence (i.e., a question). Forexample:

• Word Order in a Question:Where are you?The word order is verb-subject: verb (are) then subject (you)

• Word Order in a Statement:You are there.The word order is subject-verb: subject (you) then verb (are).

• Word Order in an Indirect Question:I want to know where you are. NOT I want to know where are you.The word order is subject-verb: subject (you) then verb (are). It's the same wordorder as a statement.)

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

1. An indirect question can be embeddedin a statement, another question, or anorder. True or false?

• True• False

2. Which sentence is an indirect question?• I wonder if it's true.• Is it true?

3. Which sentence is an indirect question?• Can you tell me whether it's going to rain

tonight?• Are you getting tired yet?

4. Which sentence is an indirect question?• She was wondering whether to come.• Get off that stage!

5. Which sentence is an indirect question?• Will you show me the way? • I don't know where he went.

6. Which sentence is an indirect question?• Why are you scared? • Would you tell me why you're scared?

7. Select the correct version.• Tell me if it's true? • Tell me if it's true.

8. Select the correct version.• Tell me where you are. • Tell me where are you

9. Select the correct version.Did she say where she was. Did she say where she was? Did she say where was she?

GRAMMAR PRACTICE:ANSWERS

1. An indirect question can be embeddedin a statement, another question, or anorder. True or false?

• True• False

2. Which sentence is an indirect question?• I wonder if it's true.• Is it true?

3. Which sentence is an indirect question?• Can you tell me whether it's going to rain

tonight?• Are you getting tired yet?

4. Which sentence is an indirect question?• She was wondering whether to come.• Get off that stage!

5. Which sentence is an indirect question?• Will you show me the way? • I don't know where he went.

6. Which sentence is an indirect question?• Why are you scared? • Would you tell me why you're scared?

7. Select the correct version.• Tell me if it's true? • Tell me if it's true.

8. Select the correct version.• Tell me where you are. • Tell me where are you

9. Select the correct version.Did she say where she was. Did she say where she was? Did she say where was she?

GRAMMAR PRACTICE: IF or WHETHER1. Select the correct version:

If/ whether she fails, it will destroy her.

2. Select the correct versión:

I am going to complain whether/whether or notthe referee is right.

3. Select the correct version:

If / Whether he plays is irrelevant.


I have been wondering if / whether to build my own house.


The game will be abandoned if / whether it snows.


If / Whether to run or hide is a dilemma I face on a daily basis.


Go to the party if / whether you must.


We'll be in the pub whether / whether or not Barcelona win.


If / whether I go, you'll have to stay.


I don't think much about whether / if fans will remember me.

GRAMMAR PRACTICE: IF or WHETHER1. Select the correct version:

If/ whether she fails, it will destroy her.

2. Select the correct versión:

I am going to complain whether/whether or notthe referee is right.


If / Whether he plays is irrelevant.


I have been wondering if / whether to build my own house.


The game will be abandoned if / whether it snows.


If / Whether to run or hide is a dilemma I face on a daily basis.


Go to the party if / whether you must.


We'll be in the pub whether / whether or not Barcelona win.


If / whether I go, you'll have to stay.


I don't think much about whether / if fans will remember me.

If

whether or not

Whether

whether

if

Whether

If

whether or not

If

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