Indirect questions

map ask directions tourist cafe restaurant aide point    Could you tell me where the station is, please?

These are an alternative way to ask certain questions. For example:

Could you tell me if it's ready? = Is it ready?


They consist of two questions in one sentence. There are lots of possibilities. Here are a few examples:

 

First question

+

Second question

 

Could you tell me...

 

 

if/whether

 

 

...there's a canteen in this building?

 

 

Can you remember...

 

 

if/whether

 

 

...we ordered more paper?

 

 

Do you know...

 

 

who/what/which/where/

when/whose

 

 

...it is?

 

 

Does anyone recall...

 

 

where

 

 

...we put the file?

 

 

Did she say...

 

 

how

 

 

...she fixed it?

 

 

Can you confirm...

 

 

how much/many

 

 

...we need?

 

 

Do you have any idea...

 

 

how long

 

 

...it will take?

 

 

Would you mind explaining...

 

 

how

 

 

...you're going to solve this problem?

 

 

 

Note that

 

1. In the first question, we use the usual word order for interrogatives but in the second question, we do not:

 

Do you know what is it?   red x, red cross

Do you know what it isgreen check mark, tick mark

 

Could you tell me where can I find a post office? red x, red cross

Could you tell me where I can find a post office? green check mark, tick mark

 

Can you confirm what time does the conference start? red x, red cross

Can you confirm what time the conference starts? green check mark, tick mark

 

An exception is when there is a question word in the second part that refers to a subject rather than an object. For example:

 

Can you tell me what's wrong?   green check mark, tick mark

Do you know who will be there?  green check mark, tick mark

 

 2. With 'whose', only one indirect form is correct:

 

Whose pen is this?

Do you know whose pen this is? green check mark, tick mark 

 

Whose is this pen?

 

Do you know whose is this pen?

 

 3. We can also use question word + infinitive. For example:

 

Do you know...

...what to do with this file?

...when to take a coffee break?

...where to go?

...how many to bring?

 

Could you tell me...

...how to get to the airport?

...which computer to use?

...whose ID to check?

...who to invite?


Use

Examples

 

To be more polite, especially when talking to a stranger or someone we don't know well.

 

Excuse me, do you know which platform I need for trains to Birmingham?

 

Can you tell me whether it's quicker to go by bus or train?

 

 

When we don't know if the person we're asking has the information we need.

 

Do you know if there's a team meeting this week?

 

Did you find out when the parts will arrive?

 

 

When there are simply two questions involved.

 

Did anyone ask whether it's OK for us to leave early?

 

Did you notice if Frank was in his office?

 


Note that we often begin with 'Excuse me' when approaching a stranger or interrupting someone to ask a question. We might also add 'please' at the end.