UNIT 7.2
GRAMMAR
Question forms
What Are Indirect Questions?
Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members, and people who we know well. You can form direct questions using the QUASI model.
Example of a direct question:
“Where’s the bathroom?”
Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different.
Example of an indirect question:
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”
Phrases For Indirect Questions
Examples
Direct: Where is Market Street?
Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?
In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).
Yes/No Direct Questions –> “If” In Indirect Questions
If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who, when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.
Direct: Does Tom like Italian food?
Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food?
Direct: Are your parents joining us for dinner?
Indirect: Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner?
Direct: Do they speak English?
Indirect: I was wondering if they speak English.
Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members, and people who we know well. You can form direct questions using the QUASI model.
Example of a direct question:
“Where’s the bathroom?”
Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different.
Example of an indirect question:
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”
Phrases For Indirect Questions
- Could you tell me…
- Do you know…
- I was wondering…
- Do you have any idea…
- I’d like to know…
- Would it be possible…
- Is there any chance…
Examples
Direct: Where is Market Street?
Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?
In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).
Yes/No Direct Questions –> “If” In Indirect Questions
If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who, when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.
Direct: Does Tom like Italian food?
Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food?
Direct: Are your parents joining us for dinner?
Indirect: Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner?
Direct: Do they speak English?
Indirect: I was wondering if they speak English.
Let's see more examples of indirect questions: