Indirect questions are a more polite and formal way of asking for information. They are especially useful when speaking to strangers, authority figures, or in formal situations.
What are Indirect Questions?
Indirect questions are polite ways to ask for information.
When we ask a direct question, we typically invert the subject and verb:
- Where is the bank?
- What time does the movie start?
To make these questions more polite, we can change them into indirect questions:
- Could you tell me where the bank is?
- Do you know what time the movie starts?
Structure of Indirect Questions
Indirect questions have two parts:
- An introductory phrase
- The question itself (which follows normal word order, not question word order)
Common Introductory Phrases:
- Could you tell me…
- Do you know…
- I wonder…
- I’d like to know…
- Would you mind telling me…
- Can you explain…
Important Rule: Word Order
In the second part of an indirect question, we use normal sentence word order, not question word order.
| Direct Question: Where is the post office? | Indirect Question: Could you tell me where the post office is? |
Notice that in the indirect question, “is” comes after “the post office,” not before it.
Examples with Different Question Types
For Wh- Questions:
| Direct: What does this word mean? | Indirect: Could you explain what this word means? |
| Direct: Where do you live? | Indirect: I’d like to know where you live. |
| Direct: How much does it cost? | Indirect: Do you know how much it costs? |
For Yes/No Questions:
For yes/no questions, we use “if” or “whether” in the indirect question.
| Direct: Is the restaurant open? | Indirect: Do you know if the restaurant is open? |
| Direct: Can I park here? | Indirect: I wonder if I can park here. |
| Direct: Do they serve breakfast? | Indirect: Could you tell me whether they serve breakfast? |
Practical Usage
Indirect questions are especially useful in these situations:
- When speaking to strangers: Excuse me, could you tell me where the bathroom is?
- In formal settings: I’d like to know if you offer student discounts.
- When asking for help: Would you mind showing me how this machine works?
- When you want to sound more polite: I wonder if you could help me with this form.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using question word order in the indirect part
- ❌ Could you tell me where is the bank?
- ✓ Could you tell me where the bank is?
Mistake 2: Forgetting “if” or “whether” for yes/no questions
- ❌ Do you know the store is open now?
- ✓ Do you know if the store is open now?
Mistake 3: Adding question marks to indirect questions that are statements
- ❌ I wonder where the nearest ATM is?
- ✓ I wonder where the nearest ATM is.
Practice Dialog
Tourist: Excuse me, could you tell me where the museum is?
Local: Yes, it’s on Main Street, next to the park.
Tourist: Thank you. Do you know what time it opens?
Local: I believe it opens at 9 AM, but I’m not sure.
Tourist: I wonder if they have guided tours.
Local: Yes, they do. You might want to ask if you need to book in advance.
Tourist: Thanks for your help. Would you mind telling me how to get to Main Street from here?
Local: Not at all. Just go straight and turn left at the traffic light.
Now practice making your own indirect questions to ask for information politely in various situations!