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Teacher cue
B1 · English Grammar

Indirect
Questions

Can you tell me where the station is?

polite questions statement word order
The idea

A question inside a question

We make questions more polite by embedding them inside a phrase. The word order inside changes to statement order.

Examples

Where is the bank? → Can you tell me where the bank is?

What does she want? → Do you know what she wants?

The structure

Introductory phrase

+ question word / if / whether

+ subject + verb

Not: …where is the bank?

Rule 1

Word order: subject before verb

Direct questions invert subject and verb. Indirect questions restore normal statement order.

Direct question
Where is the museum?
What does she want?
When did he leave?
How can I help?
Indirect question
…where the museum is.
…what she wants.
…when he left.
…how I can help.
Rule 2

No do / does / did

Simple present and past indirect questions drop the auxiliary. The main verb changes to show 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.
Why did they leave? → I'm not sure why they left.
Rule 3

Yes / No questions: use if or whether

When there is no question word, add if or whether after the introductory phrase.

Direct (yes/no)
Is she coming?
Will they cancel it?
Did he pass?
Indirect (if / whether)
I wonder if/whether she is coming.
Do you know if/whether they will cancel it?
I'm not sure if/whether he passed.
Common phrases
Can / Could you tell me…?
Do you know…? · I wonder…
I'd like to know… · I'm not sure…
Note
if and whether are both correct. whether is slightly more formal. Never use that for yes/no indirect questions.
⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

Can you tell me where is the bank?

…where the bank is? ✓

Do you know what does she study?

…what she studies? ✓

I'm not sure when did he arrive.

…when he arrived. ✓

I wonder if can she speak French.

…if she can speak French. ✓

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap the blank to reveal

Fill the gap

Can you tell me where the post office (be) ?
Do you know what time the meeting (start) ?
I'd like to know if they (arrive) yet.
Could you explain how she (solve) the problem?
I wonder whether the museum (open) on Sundays.
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

I'd like to know whetherA the shop is openB on Sundays and where can I parkC my car nearbyD.

Cand where can I park → and where I can park

✓ indirect questions keep statement word order

Could you telling meA whenB the next bus arrivesC atD this stop?

ACould you telling me → Could you tell me

✓ modal + bare infinitive

I wonder whyA she didn't replyB to my message, andC what did she thinkD of my idea.

Dwhat did she think → what she thought

✓ no auxiliary do in an indirect question

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the sentence

Could you tell me
I'd like to know
Do you know
I'm not sure
Speak & write

Your turn

Use Can you tell me…? / Do you know…? / I wonder…

Ask a stranger how to get to the city center. (indirect question)
Ask a colleague if the meeting has been canceled. (indirect question)
Ask a hotel receptionist what time checkout is. (indirect question)
Say you're not sure whether the shops open on Sundays. (indirect question)
Recap

Remember this

Statement order
…where the bank is (not: where is the bank)
No do / did
…what she studies (not: what does she study)
Yes/no → if / whether
I wonder if/whether she is coming.
Introductory phrases
Can you tell me… / Do you know… / I wonder…

Indirect questions use statement word order — and never do or did.

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