This document discusses indirect questions. Indirect questions are used to be polite, especially in formal situations or when talking to strangers. An indirect question contains two clauses - a main clause that introduces the question, followed by a dependent clause that contains the actual question in a statement form rather than directly asking a question. Some common introductory words and phrases for the main clause are "I'd like to know", "Tell me", "Do you know", etc. The document provides examples of direct questions and their indirect equivalents. It also provides some grammar tips for forming indirect questions, such as not using auxiliary verbs like "do", "does", or "did" in the dependent clause.

1. Indirect QuestionsIndirect Questions
By Luis VegaBy Luis Vega
 When/Why/How?

2. When?
For formal occasions
To talk to strangers/teachers………

3. Why?
To be polite!

4. How?
. . . a sentence with 2 clauses;
the second clause contains a
question.
*BUT, the structure of the
question is in sentence form.

5. Examples . . .
Regular Question:
Where is your
college?
What qualifications
do you need to apply?
How much does a
course cost?
Indirect Question:
Would you mind
telling me where
your college is
please?.
Do you know what
qualifications you
need to apply?.
I was wondering how
much a course costs.

6. How?
For indirect questions, we start with an
introductory clause. This is a main
clause. It can be a sentence or a
question.

7. Main clause:
I’d like to know…
Tell me…
I don’t know…
I wonder…
Do you know…?
Can you tell me…?
Do you have any
idea…?
Dependent clause:
Wh- questions:
…WHEN the course starts.
…WHERE your college is.
…HOW much the course costs.
Yes/No questions:
…IF there is financial help for
overseas students?
…WHETHER we can visit
Cambridge before we start?

8. Grammar Tips:
Remember: When you are writing the dependent clause in an
Indirect Question, do NOT use Do, Does, or Did.
Examples:
regular question: Where did the teacher go?
indirect question: Do you know WHERE did the teacher go?
Do you know WHERE the teacher went?
Note: After the WH- word, IF, or WHETHER . . .
Use a sentence, NOT a question.

9. Quiz Time!
Your favourite type of exercise!
Complete each sentence so that it means the same as
the sentence before it.
• What’s your name?
Can I ask you ………………………………………………………………………….
• Where are you from?
I was wondering ……………………………………………………………………..
• What kind of room would you like?
Can you tell me ………………………………………………………………………..
• Do you have any hobbies?
I would like to know…………………………………………………………………
• What do you want to study?
I need to know…………………………………………………………………………..

10. •What’s your name?
Can I ask you what your name is?
•Where are you from?
I was wondering where you are from.
•What kind of room would you like?
Can you tell me what kind of room you would like?
•Do you have any hobbies?
I would like to know if you have any hobbies.
•What do you want to study?
I need to know what you want to study.
Now, let’s check…

11. CONGRATULATIONS!
You are stars!