Indirect questions

Indirect Questions

By Luis Quiroz

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All images used in this presentation are copyright free.

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What about indirect questions

​Indirect questions are used to ask for information or to ask in a polite manner.

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Retrieved from "​Lewo Lang"

https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/100/indirect-questions

​Can you tell me where Dr. Holt's surgery is?

¿Puede decirme dónde está la consulta del Dr. Holt?

​Can you tell me if this bus goes to the centre?

¿Puede decirme si este autobús va al centro?

Characteristics of indirect questions

Indirect questions are preceded by an introductory sentence. Some of these phrases may be:

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EXPRESSIONS
Could you tell me...?	Do you know...?
I was wondering...	Do you have any idea...?
I'd like to know…	Do you happen to know…?

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Retrieved from "​Lewo Lang"

https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/100/indirect-questions

Indirect questions do not follow the order established for direct questions:

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VERB TENSE	DIRECT QUESTION	INDIRECT QUESTION
	QUESTION WORD + VERBO AUXILIAR + SUJETO + VERBO PRINCIPAL	QUESTION WORD + SUJETO + VERBO PRINCIPAL
Present to be	Where is Mary?	Do you have any idea
Present simple	What time does the film start?	Do you happen to know
Present continuous	Why is he working today?	I'd like to know why
Past to be	When was her daughter born?	I was wondering
Past simple	How did you meet?	I'd like to know
Past continuous	Who was she talking to?	Do you happen to know
Present perfect	How long have you known him?	I was wondering
Past perfect	How long had you had your car?	I'd like to know
Future will	When will the meeting finish?	Could you tell me
Future going to	What is she going to do with her car?	Do you know
Future continuous	What will you be wearing at the graduation?	Do you know
Future perfect	How will life have changed by 2100?	I'd like to know
Modals	When must we hand in the essay?	Could you tell me

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Retrieved from "​Lewo Lang"

https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/100/indirect-questions

When a direct question has no question word, i.e., it is a question whose answer is either yes or no, the following structure is followed:

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If / whether + sujeto + verbo principal

Pregunta directa: Does the museum open on Mondays?

Pregunta indirecta: Could you tell me if/whether the museum opens on Mondays?​

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Retrieved from "​Lewo Lang"

https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/100/indirect-questions

Could you tell me if this place is far from here?

¿Podría decirme si este lugar está lejos de aquí?

En el primer ejemplo, la pregunta original sería Is this place far from here?

​I was wondering if you've read my report.

Me preguntaba si ha leído mi informe.

En el segundo ejemplo sería Have you read my report?

Retrieved from "​Lewo Lang"

https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/100/indirect-questions

Like the questions introduced by a question word, the structure of this other type of question is also inverted.

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In the present simple and past simple we use the auxiliary to ask the question, but this auxiliary is not used in affirmative sentences. Thus, in the present tense, remember to put the S before the verb when the person is he / she / it. In the past tense, the verb must be put in the past tense.

Pregunta directa:

Where does Mary work?

¿Dónde trabaja Mary?

Why did you decide to move?

¿Por qué decidiste mudarte??

Pregunta indirecta:

Do you know where Mary works?

¿Sabes dónde trabaja Mary?

I'd like to know why you decided to move.

Me gustaría saber por qué decidiste mudarte.

Retrieved from "​Lewo Lang"

https://www.lewolang.com/gramatica-inglesa/100/indirect-questions

Complete the exercises. Change the direct questions into indirect questions. Use 'can you tell me'.

​Retrieved from "Perfect English"

​https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-exercise-1.html

Change the direct questions into indirect questions. Use 'do you know'.

​Retrieved from "Perfect English"

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-exercise-2.html​