This document discusses indirect questions, which are used to sound more polite than direct questions. Indirect questions have an introductory phrase followed by the subject and verb without any auxiliaries. Examples of introductory phrases include "Do you know...", "Could you tell me...", and "I was wondering...". For yes/no questions, "if/whether" should be used after the introductory phrase unless the phrase contains a verb of opinion like "Do you think...". The document provides examples of transforming direct questions into indirect questions.

1. INDIRECT QUESTIONS

2. FORMATION AND RULES
• When should we use indirect questions?
– When we want to sound more polite.
• What makes indirect questions different?
– They have an introductory phrase.
– Their form is SUBJECT + VERB, and no auxiliaries.
• Can you give an example?
– DIRECT: Where do you live? / What time is it?
– INDIRECT: Can you tell me where you live?
Do you know what time it is?

3. INTRODUCTORY PHRASES
• Do you know...?
• Could you tell me...?
• Can I ask you...?
• Do you mind me
asking...?
• Would you mind telling
me...?
*IF THE PHRASE IS A
QUESTION FORM, USE A
QUESTION MARK
...where you live ?*

4. INTRODUCTORY PHRASES
• I wonder...
• I was wondering...
• I don’t know...
• I’d like to know...
• I need to know...
• Please tell me...
*THEY ARE NOT
QUESTIONS, SO NO
QUESTION MARK.
...where you live.*

5. PRACTICE
Transform the sentences from direct into indirect
DIRECT
(auxiliaries/verb+subject)
• Where do you live?
• Where is the school?
• How old are you?
• How much is this?
• When is the next bus?
• Where were you born?
• What are your hobbies?
• Who are you?
INDIRECT
(no auxiliaries/subject+verb)
• ... where you live (?)
• ...where the school is (?)
• ...how old you are (?)
• ...how much this is (?)
• ...when the next bus is (?)
• ...where you were born (?)
• ...what your hobbies are (?)
• ...who you are (?)

6. Yes/no questions
• If we are dealing with a
yes/no question…
• Is this the Language
School?
• Do you like vegetables?
(the answer is yes or no,
so this is a yes/no
question)
…you must use
“IF/WETHER” after the
introductory phrase.
• Can you tell me
if/wether this is the
Language School?
• I wonder if/wether you
like vegetables.

7. EXCEPTION
for YES/NO questions
When the introductory phrase
contains a verb of opinion…
• Do you think…?
• Do you believe…?
• Are you sure…?
We don’t use IF/WETHER
• Do you think if it will rain?
• Do you believe if he is
guilty?
• Are you sure if this is the
right bus?

8. PRACTICE
Transform the sentences from direct into indirect
DIRECT
• Do you like football?
• Does your sister play tennis?
• Do buses arrive late?
• Do people like reality TV?
• Do we have to pay for this?
• Can I go to the toilet?
• Do I have to wait here?
• Can you please be quiet?
INDIRECT
• ...if you like football
• ...if your sister plays tennis
• ...if buses arrive late
• ...if people like reality TV
• ...if we have to pay for this
• ...if I can go to the toilet
• ...if I have to wait here
• ...if you can please be quiet
» (?)