Indirect questions are used to soften direct questions and make them more polite. They involve changing the word order of the embedded question compared to a simple question. For example, "Where has Tom gone?" would become "Do you know where Tom has gone?". Yes/no questions in an indirect form use "if" or "whether" instead of auxiliary verbs. Indirect questions are used when the speaker wants a softer tone, such as asking for information politely.

1. Indirect Questions
Unit #10 – Listening and Speaking

2. Indirect Questions
When we ask people for information, we
sometimes begin our question with “Do
you know…?” or “Could you tell me…?” If
you begin a question like this, the word
order is different from that of a simple
question.
Compare:
Where has Tom gone?
Do you know where Tom has gone?

3. Information Questions
When the question (Where has Tom gone?) is part of a bigger sentence
(Do you know…), it loses the normal question word order.
Compare:
• When will Ann arrive? Do you have any idea when Ann will arrive?
• What time is it? Could you tell me what time it is?
• Why are you laughing? Can you tell us why you are laughing?

4. Yes/ No Questions
In Yes/No questions, you have to use “if” or “whether” where there is
no question word.
Did he see you? Do you know if he saw you?
Is he sick? Can you tell me whether he is sick?

5. Uses
Indirect questions are used when you want to sound more polite
because they have a softening effect.
• What do you mean by that?
• Can you tell me what you mean with that?

6. Practice
1. Where is the post office? Could you tell me _______________?
2. What does this word mean? Do you know _______________?
3. Is Ann coming to the meeting? Can you tell me _______________?
4. Where can I change some money? Do you have any idea ________?
5. Does Peter know the answer? Could you tell me _______________?
6. Why didn’t Tom come to the party? Do you know _____________?
7. What qualifications do I need? Can’t you remember ___________?
where the post office is
what this word means
if/ whether Ann is
coming to the meeting
where I can change
some money
if/ whether Peter knows
the answer
why Tom didn’t come
to the party
what qualifications
I need