The document focuses on the use of indirect questions in English grammar, highlighting the transformation of direct questions into indirect form using 'if', 'whether', and other structured approaches. It provides examples and rules for forming indirect yes/no and wh- questions, including proper punctuation and word order. Additionally, it emphasizes the avoidance of auxiliary verbs in indirect questions.

1. 11 Indirect Questions
First Day on the Job
Focus on Grammar 4
Part X, Unit 28
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2005. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Too Many Questions
I think he did okay, How did the new
Oh? What kinds of
Well…
but he sure asked a questions did on his
employee do he ask
lot of questions. first day?
you?

3. Indirect Questions
He asked me ifwho fixedget
HeHe alsome he me why the
asked asked could
thebigger office.
a computers.
previous person had left.
“Why did
“Who the the
fixes
“Can I get a
computers?”
previous
bigger office?”
person
leave?”

4. Indirect Yes / No Questions 1
Use if or whether in indirect yes/no
questions.
The new guy asked whether
The new guy asked if we had
theany more chocolate donuts.
boss liked practical jokes. “Do you the boss like
“Does have any more
chocolate jokes?”
practical donuts?”

5. Indirect Yes / No Questions 2
Whether is more formal than if. We often use
whether or not to report yes/no questions.
The new guy asked whether or
not he could take a break. “Can I take a
break?”

6. Change the direct questions into
Practice 1 indirect questions. Use if,
whether, or whether or not.
Example:
“Will I get a raise?” He asked…
He asked if he would get a raise.
He asked whether he would get a raise.
1. “Does the company provide a car?” They asked…
He asked whether or not he would get a raise.
They asked if the company provided a car.
2. “Can I have a company credit card?” She asked…
She asked whether she could get a company credit card.
3. “Did he order a new computer?” I asked…
I asked whether or not he had ordered a new computer.

7. Wh- Questions 1
Use question words in indirect
wh- questions.
The new guy asked when the
He also asked how many
next officecould make. “When is the next office
“How many copies
copies he party was.
can party?”
I make?”

8. Word Order 1
Use statement word order (subject + verb), not
question word order, for indirect yes/no questions.
He asked me if I could turn
off the fax machine. “Can you turn off the
fax machine?”

9. Word Order 2
Use statement word order (subject + verb), not
question word order, for indirect wh- questions about
the predicate (usually the last part of the sentence).
He asked why
the meetings lasted so long. “Why do the meetings
last so long?”

10. Word Order 3
Use statement word order (subject + verb), not
question word order, for indirect wh- questions about
the subject (usually the first part of the sentence).
Subject
He asked who made the coffee. “Who made
the coffee?”

11. Be Careful!
If a direct question about the subject has the form
question word + be + noun, then the indirect
question has the form question word + noun + be.
He asked what
was the dress code.
the dress code was. “What is the
dress code?”

12. Auxiliaries
In indirect questions, do not use the auxiliary do,
does, or did.
He asked me do I have
if I had
“Do you have any
any new video games.
any new video games. new video games?”

13. Punctuation
In indirect questions, do not end with a question
mark (end with a period).
He asked me if I could wake
him up in an hour?. “Could you wake
me up in an hour?”
?

14. Practice 2 Change the direct questions
into indirect questions.
Example:
“Where is my office?” She asked…
She asked where her office was.
1. “What’s the name of the company?” They asked…
They asked what the name of the company was.
2. “How many people work for the company?” We asked…
We asked how many people worked for the company.
3. “How long has the boss worked in the office?” I asked…
I asked how long the boss had worked in the office.

15. References
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.