Indirect Questions helps you communicate about polite enquiries and questions embedded in larger sentences. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can ask polite or embedded questions using statement word order.
- Recognise and build the form: introductory phrase + wh/if/whether + subject + verb.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Indirect Questions for polite enquiries and questions embedded in larger sentences. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
Could you tell me where the station is?
An indirect question uses statement word order: 'where the station is'.
Do you know what time the shop opens?
Do not use auxiliary inversion inside an indirect wh-question.
I wonder if she received my email.
Use 'if' or 'whether' to embed a yes/no question.
introductory phrase + wh/if/whether + subject + verbKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- An indirect question uses statement word order: 'where the station is'.
- Do not use auxiliary inversion inside an indirect wh-question.
- Use 'if' or 'whether' to embed a yes/no question.
- Use statement word order inside the indirect question.
- The embedded clause uses subject + verb order.
Common mistakes
Not:Could you tell me where the station is it?
Use:Could you tell me where the station is?
An indirect question uses statement word order: 'where the station is'.
Not:Do you know what time the shop does open?
Use:Do you know what time the shop opens?
Do not use auxiliary inversion inside an indirect wh-question.
Not:I wonder that she received my email.
Use:I wonder if she received my email.
Use 'if' or 'whether' to embed a yes/no question.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
Can you explain why the system ____?
failed
Use statement word order inside the indirect question.
Could you let me know when you ____ available?
are
The embedded clause uses subject + verb order.
I'd like to know how much this ____.
costs
An indirect present-simple question omits auxiliary 'does'.