2. Indirect Yes/No Questions
Indirect Yes/No Questions
1
1
Use if or whether in indirect yes/no questions.
“Can you type?" she She asked me if I could
asked. type.
“Do you know how to He wanted to know
use a scanner?” he whether I knew how to
asked. use a scanner.
3. Indirect Yes/No Questions
Indirect Yes/No Questions
2
2
Whether is more formal than if. We often use
whether or not to report yes/no questions.
“Is the report ready?”
my boss asks.
My boss wanted to know
whether or not the report
was ready.
4. Wh- Questions
Wh- Questions
Use question words in indirect wh- questions.
“Where is your I asked where his
office?” I asked. office was.
“How much sugar I asked how much
do you want?” I sugar he wanted.
asked.
5. Word Order 1
Word Order 1
Use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word
order, for indirect yes/no questions.
“Did they like pizza?” I I asked if they had liked pizza.
asked.
“Can you play the I asked if she
piano?” I asked. could play the
piano.
6. Word Order 2
Word Order 2
Use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word
order, for indirect wh- questions about the predicate (usually the
last part of the sentence).
“Why do you like I asked why he liked
soccer?” I asked. soccer.
“Where did they I asked where they
live?” I asked. had lived.
7. Word Order 3
Word Order 3
Use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word
order, for indirect wh- questions about the subject (usually the
first part of the sentence).
“Which factory I asked which factory
fired Tom?” I had fired Tom.
asked.
“What plants I asked what
grow in Alaska?” plants grew in
I asked. Alaska.
8. Attention!
Attention!
If a direct question about the subject has the form question word
+ be + noun, then the indirect question has the form question
word + noun + be.
“What is the I asked what the
name of the name of the book
book?” I asked. was.
“Who is your I asked who his
favorite actor?” I favorite actor
asked. was.
9.
10. Bibliography
Bibliography
• Fuchs, M. & Bonner, M., Focus on Grammar 4
Pearson Education , White Plains, NY 10606,
2006
• http://www.myenglishteacher.net
• Photo credit: Microsoft Office
