Grammar
Indirect questions: polite and accurate forms
Where is the station? is a direct question. Could you tell me where the station is? asks for the same information more politely. After where, the words follow normal statement order.
Form polite indirect questions with question words, if, or whether and keep the words after the opening phrase in statement order.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is? /kʊd juː tel miː weə ðə ˈnɪərɪst bʌs stɒp ɪz/
The short answer
Begin with a polite opening, then add the question word and normal statement order. Use if or whether when the hidden question has a yes-or-no answer. Do not use do, does, or did after the question word in an ordinary indirect question.
Do you know when the museum closes?
Why it works: The direct question is When does the museum close? After when, the indirect question uses the subject the museum before closes.
5 more examples
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Could you tell me where the meeting room is?
Where introduces the information needed. The subject the meeting room comes before is.
Not this:Could you tell me
where is the meeting room? What changes: After where in an indirect question, use statement order: where the meeting room is. -
Do you know why the train is late?
Why asks for a reason. The train is late has normal statement order.
Not this:Do you know
why is the train late? What changes: The opening Do you know already makes the whole sentence a question. Do not add direct-question order after why. -
Can you tell me if the office accepts card payments?
If introduces a yes-or-no question. Whether is also possible in this sentence.
Not this:Can you tell me
if does the office acceptcard payments? What changes: Do not use does after if. The indirect question uses the subject office before accepts. -
I cannot remember whether the form needs a signature or not.
Whether introduces two possible answers, yes and no.
Not this:I cannot remember
if the form needs a signature or not. What changes: Whether is the safer choice when the sentence includes or not. -
Please ask who is leading the interview.
Here, who is the subject of the indirect question, so who comes before is as it does in a statement.
Not this:Please ask
who the interview is leading. What changes: This changes who from the person doing the action to an object and does not ask for the interviewer.
Read the full guide
Start by finding the direct question inside the longer sentence. Then keep its question word, or choose if or whether for a yes-or-no question. Move the subject before the verb after that word. For example, change Where does Lina work? to Do you know where Lina works? The opening makes the whole sentence a question, so it can still end with a question mark.
Find the question inside the request
An indirect question contains a direct question, but it adds an opening phrase. First identify the information the speaker wants. Then build the longer sentence around it. This makes the word order easier to check.
What time does the bank open?
This is a direct question. Does comes before the subject the bank.
Could you tell me what time the bank opens?
The polite opening comes first. After what time, the bank comes before opens.
What information does the speaker need in the longer sentence?
The speaker needs the bank's opening time. What time introduces that information.
Keep normal statement order
After a question word in an indirect question, put the subject before the verb. The direct question may begin with be, do, does, or did, but that order does not continue inside the longer sentence.
Do you know where Amir lives?
Amir is the subject, and lives is the verb. The words after where read like a statement.
Could you explain how this machine works?
This machine comes before works. Do not say how does this machine work after could you explain.
Complete the request: Can you tell me where the keys ___? (be)
Can you tell me where the keys are? Put the subject keys before are.
Use question words for specific information
Keep the word that asks for the missing information. Use where for a place, when for a time, why for a reason, how for a method or amount, and which for a choice from a known group.
I would like to know when the results will be available.
When asks about time. The subject the results comes before will be available.
Can you tell me which platform the train leaves from?
Which platform asks the listener to identify one place from the possible platforms.
Choose the question word: Do you know ___ the meeting was canceled?
Why. The speaker wants the reason for the cancellation.
Use if or whether for yes-or-no questions
Use if or whether when the hidden question can be answered yes or no. In many everyday indirect questions, either word is possible. The words after it still follow statement order.
Could you check if the library is open this evening?
The speaker needs a yes-or-no answer about the library. Whether is also possible here.
Do you know whether the tickets include lunch?
Whether introduces the yes-or-no question, and the tickets comes before include.
Complete the request: Could you tell me ___ the hotel has a lift?
Use if or whether. The answer can be yes or no.
Choose whether for stated alternatives
Choose whether when you give alternatives with or, especially or not. Whether makes the two possible answers clear. It also works before to plus a verb when someone must choose an action.
Please let us know whether you can attend or not.
Whether introduces the two possible answers. This pattern is clearer than if with or not.
Mina is deciding whether to apply for the course.
Whether to apply describes a choice about an action.
Which word fits: They are discussing ___ to travel by train or by bus.
Whether. The sentence states two alternatives joined by or.
Use punctuation that matches the whole sentence
Look at the whole sentence before choosing punctuation. A polite request or a question to the listener ends with a question mark. A statement about what someone knows, remembers, or asked ends with a period, even when it contains an indirect question.
Could you tell me when the presentation begins?
The speaker asks the listener to provide information, so the whole sentence is a question.
She asked when the presentation begins.
This sentence reports what she asked. It is a statement, so it ends with a period.
Which punctuation fits I wonder where the manager is?
Use a period: I wonder where the manager is. The speaker is stating a thought, not directly asking the listener.
Before you go
Remember this
Use a question word for specific information and if or whether for a yes-or-no answer. Put the subject before the verb after that word. Do not add do, does, or did inside the indirect question. Use a question mark when the whole sentence asks a question, and use a period when the indirect question appears inside a statement.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Indirect questions: polite and accurate forms"
What is an indirect question?
An indirect question asks for information inside a longer sentence. It often begins with a polite phrase such as Could you tell me or Do you know. For example, Could you tell me where the restroom is? asks for the same information as Where is the restroom? in a less direct way.
Could you tell me where the meeting room is?
Why does word order change in an indirect question?
The opening phrase carries the question form, so the words after the question word use normal statement order. Say Do you know where the bus stops? not Do you know where does the bus stop? The subject bus comes before the verb stops.
Could you tell me where is the meeting room?
Do I use if or whether in an indirect question?
Use if or whether when the answer can be yes or no. Both are common after phrases such as Do you know and Can you check. Choose whether when you state alternatives, especially with or not, or when you use whether to before a verb.
Do you know why the train is late?
Can an indirect question end with a question mark?
Use a question mark when the whole sentence asks the listener for information: Can you tell me how the printer works? Use a period when the sentence is a statement: I do not know how the printer works. Check the whole sentence, including the words before how.
Do you know why is the train late?
Is who always followed by a subject in an indirect question?
No. When who is the subject, it comes before the verb: Do you know who manages the store? When who is the object, another subject comes first: Do you know who the manager called? The meaning tells you which pattern you need.
Can you tell me if the office accepts card payments?