08 Indirect Questions

INDIRECT QUESTIONS
Common Questions
Asked by visitors to a City
Check with (X) in the parenthesis the questions you can answer about your city
How much do cabs cost? Where is the best place to meet friends?
Where can I get a map? What’s an inexpensive way to sightsee?
Where can I rent a cell phone? Where should I go shopping?
Where can I walk my dog? What are some interesting stores?
Which hotel is closest to the airport? What museums should I see?
GRAMMAR INTRO:
Indirect Questions from WH – Questions:
Wh – Questions with BE Indirect questions
Where is the bank? Could you tell me where the bank is?
Where are the rest rooms? Do you know where the rest rooms are?
Wh – Questions with DO or DID Indirect Questions
How often do the buses leave? Can you tell me how often the buses leave?
What time does the bank open? Do you know what time the bank opens?
When did Flight 566 arrive? Do you know when flight 566 arrived?
Direct questions
• Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we
can ask friends, family members, and people who we
know well.
• Example of a direct question:
“Where is the bathroom?”
Indirect questions
• 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?”
Examples
• Direct: Where is Balmaceda Street?
• Indirect: Could you tell me where Balmaceda Street
is?
In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is)
comes after the subject (Balmaceda Street).
Examples
• Direct What time does the bank open?
• Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?
In indirect questions, we don’t use the auxiliary
verbs do/does/did.
Examples
• Direct: Why did you move to Chile?
• Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe.
• Again, there is no auxiliary verb did in the indirect
question.
Examples
• Direct: How much does the iphone 7 cost?
• Indirect: I’d like to know how much the iphone 7
costs?.
• To form the indirect question, remove does and
change “cost” to “costs.”
Examples
• Direct: Can you finish the project by tomorrow?
• Indirect: Would it be possible for you to finish the
project by tomorrow?
• For direct questions with can, we can use the phrase
“would it be possible…” to make it indirect.
Examples
• If the direct question is a “yes or no” question, 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?
ACTIVITY : LISTENING, Celebrity Interview
Listen to an interview with Jeri, a fashion model. Answer the questions.
1. Where did she grow up? ……………………………………….

2. What did she want to do when she grew up? ……………………………………….
3. Did she have a hobby? ……………………………………….
4. Did she have a favorite game? ……………………………………….
5. What was her favorite place? ……………………………………….
ACTIVITY 1:
Write indirect questions using these Wh – Questions.
1. How much does a newspaper cost? …………………………………….

2. Where is the nearest cash machine? …………………………………….
3. What time do the banks open? …………………………………….
4. How often do the buses come? …………………………………….
5. Where can you get a good meal? …………………………………….
6. How late do the nightclubs stay open? …………………………………….
7. How early do the trains run? …………………………………….
8. What is the best hotel in the area? …………………………………….
ACTIVITY 2:
Rewrite the sentences without changing
the meaning
✓ Where is the nearest bank? …………………………………………………………
✓ Why is that little baby crying? …………………………………………………………
✓ Is there any water here? …………………………………………………………
✓ Is he coming tomorrow? …………………………………………………………
✓ How many cars does she have? …………………………………………………………
✓ Do they like swimming? …………………………………………………………
✓ What does she want? …………………………………………………………
Types of Questions DIRECT QUESTIONS INDIRECT QUESTIONS
(common questions) (more polite and personal)
Structure Wh + axuliary verb + subject + verb + object? Opening phrase + WH word / if + affirmative form
Where does he live ? Can you tell me where he lives?
Examples Did he go to London? Do you have any idea if he went to London?
Examples of OPENING PHRASES

- Can I ask you …? Could you tell me..?
- Do you have any idea….?
- Would you mind telling me…?
- What / why/where/ who / do you think….?
- I was wondering …… / I wonder…
- I´d be interested to know …
- I´d like to know ….
- Would it be possible…?
Answers
• Could you tell me where the nearest bank is?
• Do you know why that little baby is crying?
• Do you know if there is any water here?
• Could you tell me if he is coming tomorrow?
• Do you know how many cars she has?
• Do you know if they like swimming?
• Could you tell me what she wants?

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INDIRECT QUESTIONS

Asked by visitors to a City

Wh – Questions with BE Indirect questions

Wh – Questions with DO or DID Indirect Questions

• Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite.

Listen to an interview with Jeri, a fashion model. Answer the questions.

1. Where did she grow up? ……………………………………….

1. How much does a newspaper cost? …………………………………….

Where does he live ? Can you tell me where he lives?

Examples Did he go to London? Do you have any idea if he went to London?

Examples of OPENING PHRASES

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