Study both examples:
Could you tell me what time the shop next door opens?
Do you know if (whether) Mark’s coming to the meeting?
Use:
• We use indirect questions when we want to ask a question in a more
polite way. We begin with a phrase such as Can / Could you tell me…? Do
you know…? Do you think…? Do you remember…? Would you mind telling
me…? Do you have any idea…?
• Compare:
What time does the post office open? (direct question) and Could you tell
me what time the post office opens? (indirect question)
• In indirect questions, the order is subject + verb.
Can you tell me where it is? NOT Can you tell me where is it?
• We don’t use do/did in the second part of the question.
Do you know where he lives? NOT Where does he live?
• You can use if or whether in questions without a question word and
after: Can you tell me, Do you know, etc.
• We only use question marks if the introductory phrase itself is a
question.
I’d like to know how much it costs. (Not a question)
Do you know how much it costs? (a question)
Some expressions:
Other expressions followed by the word order of indirect questions
The word order of indirect questions is used after:
I wonder…, e.g. I wonder why they didn’t come.
I’m not sure…, e.g. I’m not sure what time it starts.
I can’t remember…, e.g. I can’t remember where I left my phone.
I’d like to know…, e.g. I’d like to know what time you’re coming home.
Download “Indirect Questions Explanation” in pdf.
Download “Indirect Questions Exercise” in pdf.
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