The document explains the difference between direct and indirect questions, noting that indirect questions are more formal and polite. It provides various examples and phrases for forming indirect questions, emphasizing changes in verb placement and form. Additionally, it introduces an interactive activity called 'Cluedo' where participants must ask indirect questions to deduce information.

1. +
Indirect Questions
By 西瓜 English

2. +
What are Indirect Questions?
Direct questions are the normal questions
we ask to friends, family and people we
know very well.
“Where’s the bathroom?”
Indirect questions are a little more formal
and polite, so we use them when we are
talking to people we don’t know very well.
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

3. +
Indirect Question Phrases
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 possibility that ...

4. +
Comparisons
 Direct: “Where is Zhongnan Road?”
 Indirect: “Could you tell me where Zhongnan Road
is?”
 NOTICE: To make an indirect question you need
to put your is/are (is) verb after the subject
(Zhongnan Road)

5. +
Comparisons
 Direct: “What time does the supermarket open?”
 Indirect: “Do you know what time the supermarket
opens?”
 NOTICE: In an indirect question you don’t use
do/does/did. Also the verb changes from ‘open’ in
the direct question to ‘opens’ in the indirect one

6. +
Comparisons
 Direct: “How has she managed to get promoted so
soon?”
 Indirect: “Do you have any idea how she’s managed
to get promoted so soon?”
 NOTICE: have/has auxiliary verbs can be in both
types of questions, but in a direct question ‘has’
comes before the subject (she) but in an indirect
question it is after the subject.

7. +
Comparisons
 Direct: “How much does this phone cost?”
 Indirect: “Could you tell me how much this phone
costs?”
 NOTICE: To make an indirect question removes
does and change cost to costs.

8. +
Comparisons
 Direct: “Can you finish the painting by tomorrow?”
 Indirect: “Would it be possible for you to finish the
painting by tomorrow?”
 NOTICE: For a direct question with can, the
phrase ‘would it be possible’ can make it indirect.

9. +
Comparisons
 Direct: “Can we change the interview to Monday
morning?”
 Indirect: “Is there any chance we could change the
meeting to Monday morning?”
 NOTICE: ‘Is there any chance’ is another way to
make can questions indirect.

10. +
‘If’ in Direct Questions
 Direct: “Does John drink green tea?”
 Indirect: “Do you know if John drinks green tea?”
 Direct: “Do they speak Chinese?”
 Indirect: “I was wondering if they speak Chinese?”
 Direct: “Do you plan on doing a masters degree?”
 Indirect: “I’d like to know if you plan on doing a master’s
degree?”

11. + Cluedo
 There has a been a murder, and your job is find out who did
it, where they did it, and what they used
 Each team will receive some information, and you will get to
ask the other two teams two questions to find out more
information
 However, you cannot ask a direct question:“What cards do
you have?”,“Is it James”,“Do you have a knife?”
 You need to use passive questions or indirect questions such
as:“Can it be used for…”,“Do they work in a ...”,“What
couldn’t you do in this place?”
 You get one chance to guess, after that you can check your
answer, but if you are wrong you are out.

12. Suspects Locations Weapons
Teacher Library Gun
CEO Shopping Mall Knife
Chef Subway Station Frying Pan
Detective Park Keyboard
Personal
Assistant
Bedroom Car
Server Basketball
Court
Rope

13. Thanks
 Check us out of WeChat by scanning the QR Code below