Ch 19
Indirect Questions
Could you tell me where…? · I wonder if… · polite question structure
Start with a phrase like Can you tell me…? or Do you know…? Then the question itself uses normal sentence word order.
Direct
Where is the station?
Indirect
Can you tell me where the station is?
Direct
What time does the film start?
Indirect
Do you know what time the film starts?
Where is the bank?
→ Can you tell me where the bank is?
When are they arriving?
→ Do you know when they are arriving?
Who is that man?
→ Do you know who that man is?
The opening is the question. The part after it is a normal sentence: subject + verb.
What time does it open?
→ Do you know what time it opens?
How much does it cost?
→ Could you tell me how much it costs?
Where did she go?
→ Can you tell me where she went?
does open → opens · did go → went. The tense moves to the main verb.
Is the museum open?
→ Do you know if the museum is open?
Does this bus go to the centre?
→ Can you tell me if this bus goes to the centre?
Is it far?
→ I'm not sure whether it's far.
Do you know…?
Do you know where the toilets are?
Can you tell me…?
Can you tell me how much this is?
Could you tell me…?
Could you tell me when the shop opens? (very polite)
I'd like to know…
I'd like to know if there are any tickets left.
After I'd like to know or I wonder, use a full stop — it is a statement, not a question.
Can you tell me where is the station?
→
Can you tell me where the station is?
subject before verb after the opening
Do you know what time does the film start?
→
Do you know what time the film starts?
no does — the verb takes the -s
Do you know is the shop open?
→
Do you know if the shop is open?
yes/no question → if or whether
Could you tell me where did you buy it?
→
Could you tell me where you bought it?
no did — the verb goes into the past
Ask each question politely with an indirect question.
1
You are in a restaurant and need the toilets.
2
You want to know how much a ticket to the concert costs.
3
You are not sure if this train stops in the city centre.
4
You are at a tourist information office. Ask three questions.
Recap
Opening
Can you tell me · Do you know · Could you tell me
Can you tell me…?
Word order
subject + verb after the opening
where the station is
No do/does/did
the main verb changes instead
what time it opens
Yes / no
if or whether
if the shop is open