direct & indirect questions

1. ASKING
QUESTIONS IN
ENGLISH

2. We ask questions to get information.
There are two types of questions in the English
language: direct and indirect.
•Direct questions are used to try to get information.
When we write a direct question, we always end the sentence with a question
mark ( ? ). The question mark signals to the reader that the sentence is a question.
Examples:
Where is the bathroom?
•Do you want to drink water?
•When will she be here?
•What is your name?
•Your name is Mike, isn't it?

3. are used to try to get
information. we always end
the sentence with a question
mark ( ? ). The question
mark signals to the reader
that the sentence is a
question.
are also used to try to get
information, but are a polite
and longer form of direct
questions. They are
sometimes said as a
statement and written with a
period instead of a question
mark.

5. DIRECT QUESTIONS
There are four main categories of direct questions, depending on the kind of
answer you expect: Yes/No questions, WH questions, alternative
questions and tag questions.
1. Yes/No questions
To form a direct questions with a yes or no answer, we use auxiliary verbs, which are also called
helping verbs.
An auxiliary (or helping) verb is a verb that is used together with another verb to express the action
or state.
Main verb + auxiliary verb = complete idea
For example: is + working = is working = the full idea of the verb
Incorrect: Lisa working now.
Correct: Lisa is working now.

6. •These are a few
common auxiliary verbs:
have
•has
•can
•is
•was
•does
•do
•did
•are

7. Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb
Examples:
•Did Sarah sleep?
•Do you cook?
•Was she running?
•Have you seen the dog?

8. Let's practice making Yes/No questions
from these sentences:
1. You like chocolate.
To make these sentences into questions, we need to add
the auxiliary verb does or do before the subject.
Does is used if the subject is he, she or it. In all other cases,
use do.
Do you like chocolate?

9. She likes her gift. Does she like her gift?
Young children like to swim. Do young children like to swim?
Richard wants to go to the park. Does Richard want to go to the park?
It works.
Does it work?

10. The verb like always goes after the subject of the question. Do not add an 's'
to the word like.
Correct: Do you like the chocolate?
Incorrect: Do you likes the chocolate?
Correct: Does she like her gift?
Incorrect: Does she likes her gift?
If the sentence is in past tense form (it already happened), use the auxiliary
verb did. Did is the past form of do or does.
The verb like does not change when the question is in past tense form.
Correct: Did you like the chocolate?
Incorrect: Did you liked the chocolate?
Correct: Did she like her gift?
Incorrect: Did she liked her gift?

11. Let's practice by making questions using
the auxiliary verbs can and be:
She can read the book. Can she read the book?
The boy can throw the ball. Can the boy throw the ball?
She is a good artist.
Is she a good artist?
Lisa is a great cook.
Is Lisa a great cook?

12. 2. WH Questions
DIRECT QUESTIONS
•WH questions allow a wide range of answers. These types of questions begin with
question words such as:
what
•why
•where
•how
•when
•who
•which

13. •Examples:
Where is the bathroom?
•What is your name?
•Who is the man next to you?
•Why did she leave so early?
•How are you feeling today?

14. •Do not use an auxiliary verb after who, which or what if they are the subject of
the sentence.
Examples:
Who called you?
•Which man is your father?
•What day is the party?

15. DIRECT QUESTIONS
3. Alternative Questions
•Alternative questions are another type of direct questions.
Alternative questions require an answer chosen from the options given
in the question. These types of questions always contain the
connecting word or.
Examples:
Do you like the ocean or the mountains?
•Will you be driving your car or riding the bus?
•Would you like to eat pizza or hamburgers?
•Did you buy the blue ball or the red ball?

16. DIRECT QUESTIONS
4. Tag Questions
A tag question is a statement followed by a short question. Tag
questions are very common in the English language and are used
to ask if you agree with the statement.
Tag questions are written in this form:
statement + tag + ?

17. •Examples:
You like hamburgers, don't you?
•She has brown hair, doesn't she?
•Her name is Rose, isn't it?
•This is a pig, right?

25. ASKING QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH –
INDIRECT QUESTIONS
•Indirect questions are also used to try to get information.
However, we use indirect questions if we want to ask a more
personal or formal question.
Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions.

26. •Indirect questions can start with introductory
phrases such as these:
•Can you tell me . . .
•Could you tell me . . .
•I would be interested to hear . . .
•I would like to know . . .
•Would you mind telling me . . .
•I wonder . . .

27. When forming an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed
by about, a WH word or if. Then add the subject and the rest of the
sentence.
Introductory phrase + question word
(WH word, about or if) + positive sentence
You do not need to use an auxiliary verb.

28. Examples: (Direct => Indirect)
Correct: Where is the bathroom? => Can you tell me where the bathroom is located?
Incorrect: Can you tell me where is the bathroom located?

29. Correct: When does the next bus arrive? => Do you know when the next bus arrives?
Incorrect: Do you know when does the next bus arrives?
Examples: (Direct => Indirect)

30. Correct: What is his name? => Would you mind telling me his name?
Incorrect: Would you mind telling me do you know his name?
Examples: (Direct => Indirect)

31. Indirect questions can also be said in the form of a statement. These types of
indirect questions are used to try to get information and end with a period.
•Examples: (Direct => Indirect)
Do you like chocolate? => I would like to know if you like chocolate.

32. •Examples: (Direct => Indirect)
What do you like about your job? => I wonder if you could tell me what you
like about your job.

33. •Examples: (Direct => Indirect)
•Where is your home? => I can't remember the address of your
home.

34. Direct Questions
Where is MacDougal Street?
Can you tell me where MacDougal Street is?
•Can you tell me . . .
•Could you tell me . . .
•I would be interested to hear . . .
•I would like to know . . .
•Would you mind telling me . . .
•I wonder . . .
•Do you know…?
•Do you have any idea…?
•Would it be possible…?

35. Direct Questions
Has the game started yet?
Do you know if/whether the game has started yet?
•Can you tell me . . .
•Could you tell me . . .
•I would be interested to hear . . .
•I would like to know . . .
•Would you mind telling me . . .
•I wonder . . .
•Do you know…?
•Do you have any idea…?
•Would it be possible…?

36. Direct Questions
Are they coming with us?
Do you know if/whether they’re coming with us?
•Can you tell me . . .
•Could you tell me . . .
•I would be interested to hear . . .
•I would like to know . . .
•Would you mind telling me . . .
•I wonder . . .
•Do you know…?
•Do you have any idea…?
•Would it be possible…?

37. Direct Questions
Can you help me move on Saturday?
Is there any chance you could help me move on
Saturday?

38. What time is it?
Where is the music shop?
Why did you move to D.C.?
Can we meet on Monday?
Can you loan me your car?
Do you know what time it is?
Can you tell me where the music shop is?
Can you tell me why you moved to D.C.?
Would it be possible for us to meet on Monday?
I was wondering if you can loan me your car.
Can you tell me if my answers are correct