This document discusses the differences between direct and indirect questions. Direct questions use auxiliary verbs like "do" and "did" and ask questions directly, while indirect questions are more polite, avoiding auxiliary verbs and instead using phrases like "I would like to know" before the question. The rules are that indirect questions follow the structure of a positive sentence and use "if" or "whether" to introduce yes/no questions. Indirect questions are used when one wants to sound more polite with unfamiliar people.

1. INDIRECT QUESTIONS

2. direct vs indirect questions
• Do you know him? Direct question
• Could you tell me if you know him? embedded
question
• I would like to know if you know him. indirect
question

3. direct vs indirect questions
• Does he play chess? Direct question
• Could you tell me if he plays chess? embedded
question
• I would like to know if he plays chess. indirect
question

4. direct vs indirect questions
• Are you coming with us?
• Can you tell me if/wether you are coming with
us?
• I would like to know if you are coming with us.

5. direct vs indirect questions
• Do you play football?
• Can you tell me if/whether you play football?
• I would like to know if/whether you play football.

6. THE RULES
• Indirect questions normally have the same
order as a positive sentence.
• We don’t need the auxiliary verbs do/did
• Yes/no questions are introduced by “if” or
“whether”

7. WHEN DO WE USE THEM?
• When we want to sound more polite with
people we don’t know very well.