Direct and Indirect Questions

2. Questions
*If we want to make questions, we can do
it by changing the word order (e.g. Is he
your boyfriend?, Was she there? Have you
been to Ireland?) or using the auxiliary do
(e.g. Do you know them?, Does he live with
you?, Did you enjoy it?)

3. Direct Questions
*A direct question can be answered (i.e., it
is not a statement) and always ends in a
questions mark (?). For example:
-Did Rodrigo catch a large dogfish?
-Was Miriam singing in the shower?
-Has Francisco been waiting for
Paloma so long?

4. Direct Questions
*Yes/No questions
The answer to a Yes/No
question will be Yes or No.
e.g. Dou you like celery?
(Answer to this: Yes)

5. Direct Questions
*Forming Yes/No questions:
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb + Remainder
-Can Francisca swim?
-Has Tannia finished screaming?
-Does Miriam want to stay?
-Will Texia be happy?

6. Direct Questions
*“Question word”
The answer to a “questions word” will be
some information.
e.g. What is celery salt?
(Answer: Celery salt is seasoned salt
Made from ground celery seeds and
table salt)

7. Direct Questions
*Forming “Question word”
Questions word + Auxiliary verb + Subject *+ Main
verb + Remainder
-Where did Natalia go?
-Why have they started the play
-early?
-When will Edwin catch a decent
bass?

8. Direct Questions
*Choice questions
The answer to a choice question
will be in the question.
e.g. Do you want garlic salt or
celery salt?
(Answer: Garlic salt)

9. Direct Questions
*Forming Choice questions
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main Verb + Choice 1 +
“or” + Choice 2
-Do you drink tea of coffee?
-Did Texia catch a whelk or a bass?
-Is it true or false?

10. Indirect Questions
*An indirect question is a question
embedded inside a statement (i.e., a
declarative sentence) or another question
(i.e., an interrogative sentence). It is more
formal and polite.
e.g., Katia asked if Texia liked
cheese.

11. 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…

12. Indirect Questions
*Forming Indirect questions
When the direct question is a yes-no
question, the indirect question will have if
or whether.
e.g. Are you cold?
I’m asking if you are cold.
I’m asking whether you are cold.

13. Indirect Questions
*When the direct questions start with an
interrogative pronoun or interrogative
adjective, the indirect question will start
will it as well.
e.g., What time is it? direct question
I’m asking what time is.

14. Indirect Questions
*Examples
-Where is market street?
Could you tell me where market street is?
-What time does the bank open?
Do you know what time the bank opens?
-Why did you move to Europe?
I was wondering why you moved to
Europe?