This document provides guidance on forming indirect questions. It explains that indirect questions are reported using "ask" in the simple past tense. Indirect questions end with a period, not a question mark, and do not use auxiliary verbs like "do", "does", or "did". It also specifies that if or whether should introduce indirect yes/no questions and that the word order should be a statement rather than a question. Examples are given of both correct and incorrect indirect questions.

1. Unit 11 Grammar Notes
Part 3 on Page 179

2. 3.
EXPLANATION EXAMPLE(S)
T0 report indirect
questions, we normally
use ask in its simple
past form.
Mrs. Mason asked Mary
if she was going to
resign.
I asked my boss
whether I could take
Friday off.
My boss asked me why
I needed time off.

3. BE CAREFUL!
Indirect questions end
with a period, not a
question mark. Do not use
do, does or did in an
indirect question.

4. 3.
CORRECT **INCORRECT
Sue asked Helen if she
had talked to her boss.
Helen asked Sue where
the boss’s office was.
Sue asked Helen how
she could work there
three years without
knowing that.
**Sue asked Helen did
she talk to her boss.
**Helen asked Sue
where was the boss’s
office.
**Sue asked Helen how
could she work there
three years without
knowing that.

5. 3.
EXPLANATION EXAMPLE(S)
Use if or whether (or not),
not that, to introduce an
indirect yes/no question. If
and whether (or not) are
similar in meaning and are
often used interchangeably.
We often use whether (or
not) to emphasize
alternatives or different
possibilities.
Bob asked, “Do you
think she’ll take the
job?”

Bob asked whether or not
she would take the job =
Bob asked whether she
would take the job  Bob
asked if she would take the
job.

6. Use statement word
order, not question word
order, to report yes/no
questions.

7. 3.
CORRECT **INCORRECT
I asked if we would
know the answer soon.
I asked whether the
answer would be sent
by e-mail.
I asked if anyone was
going to answer the
question.
**I asked would we
know the answer soon.
**I asked would the
answer be sent by e-
mail.
**I asked was anyone
going to answer the
question.