Indirect questions

Asking questions

1. Indirect questions

Can you tell me where Dr. Holt's surgery is?

Can you tell me if this bus goes to the centre?

2. Characteristics of indirect questions

• Indirect questions are preceded by an introductory sentence. Some of these sentences may be:
  

  Expressions
  Could you tell me...?	Do you know...?
  I was wondering...	Do you have any idea...?
  I'd like to know…	Do you happen to know…?

• Indirect questions do not follow the same structure as direct questions:
  

  Verb tense	Direct question	Indirect question
  	Question word + AuxiliarY verb + SuBJECT + MAIN VERB	Question word + SuBjeCt + MAIN VERB
  Present to be	Where is Mary?	Do you have any idea where Mary is?
  Present simple	What time does the film start?	Do you happen to know what time the film starts?
  Present continuous	Why is he working today?	I'd like to know why Mike is working today.
  Past to be	When was her daughter born?	I was wondering when her daughter was born.
  Past simple	How did you meet?	I'd like to know how you met.
  Past continuous	Who was she talking to?	Do you happen to know who she was talking to?
  Present perfect	How long have you known him?	I was wondering how long you have known him.
  Past perfect	How long had you had your car?	I'd like to know how long you had had your car.
  Future will	When will the meeting finish?	Could you tell me when the meeting will finish?
  Future going to	What is she going to do with her car?	Do you know what she is going to do with her car?
  Future continuous	What will you be wearing at the graduation?	Do you know what you will be wearing at the graduation?
  Future perfect	How will life have changed by 2100?	I'd like to know how life will have changed by 2100.
  Modals	When must we hand in the essay?	Could you tell me when we must hand in the essay?

• When a direct question has no question word, that is, it is a question whose answer is a yes or a no, the following structure is followed:
  
  If / whether + subject + main verb

  Direct question: Does the museum open on Mondays?

  Indirect question: Could you tell me if/whether the museum opens on Mondays?

  

  Could you tell me if this place is far from here?

  In this example, the original question would be Is this place far from here?

  

  I was wondering if you've read my report.

  In this example it would be Have you read my report?

  Like the questions introduced by a question word, the structure of this other type of question is also reversed.

  In present simple and past simple an auxiliary is used to ask a question, but this auxiliary is not used in affirmative sentences. So, in present simple, we have to remember to add the -S to the verb when the person is he / she / it. In past simple, the verb will be in past.

  Direct question:

  Where does Mary work?

  Why did you decide to move?

  Indirect question:

  Do you know where Mary works?

  I'd like to know why you decided to move.

Remember!