What Are Indirect Questions?
Indirect questions are polite or formal ways of asking something. Instead of asking directly, we embed the question inside an introductory phrase like Can you tell me…? or Do you know…?
Introductory phrase + question word / if / whether + subject + verb
Where is the station? → Can you tell me where the station is?
How do you drink water? → Could you explain how you drink water?
Word Order Change
Direct questions invert the subject and auxiliary/verb. Indirect questions restore normal statement word order.
| Direct question | Indirect question |
|---|
| Where is the museum? | Do you know where the museum is? |
| What does she want? | Can you tell me what she wants? |
| When did he leave? | I'd like to know when he left. |
No Do / Did in Indirect Questions
Simple present and simple past indirect questions drop the auxiliary do/does/did. The main verb changes to match the subject and tense.
What do you study? → Can you tell me what you study?
Where did she go? → Do you know where she went?
What time does it open? → I'd like to know what time it opens.
Yes/No Questions: If / Whether
When the direct question has no question word, use if or whether in the indirect version.
Will the US have space shuttles again? → Do you know if/whether the US will have space shuttles again?
Is she coming? → I wonder if/whether she is coming.
Did he pass the exam? → I'm not sure if/whether he passed the exam.
Common introductory phrases:
Can / Could you tell me…? · Do you know…? · Could you explain…?
I'd like to know… · I wonder… · I'm not sure…
⚠ Common mistakes:
✗ Can you tell me where is the station? → ✓ where the station is
✗ Do you know what does she study? → ✓ what she studies
✗ I wonder if can he speak French. → ✓ if he can speak French