Friday, September 13, 2013

Wah How to use "Indirect Questions"

We use Indirect questions when we speak to someone we don’t know very well, or in formal situations. Indirect questions are often a little more formal and polite than direct ones. 

Indirect_Direct_Question - Wah_Wasabi_Learning_English_Grammar


    Direct: Where is the post office?
    Indirect: Could you tell me where the post office is?

    Direct: Which hotel are you staying at?

    Indirect: Can I ask which hotel you are staying at?

    Direct: Who is that beautiful woman?

    Indirect: Could I ask who that beautiful woman is?


    Direct: What time does the store open?
    Indirect: Do you know what time the store opens?
    Note: We don’t use do,does or did in indirect questions  

    Direct: How much does this mobile phone cost?

    Indirect: Can I ask how much this mobile phone costs?

    Direct: Why did you resign from your job?

    Indirect: I was wondering why you resigned from your job. 
    Note: This statement is a request that ask someone to give more information, so this indirect one is not a question.


    Direct: Does Makoto speak English?
    Indirect: Could you tell me if Makoto speaks English?
    Note: We use if when you ask the indirect questions of a yes/no question.

    Direct: Are they going to see the football match tomorrow?

    Indirect: Do you know if they are going to see the football match tomorrow?


     Direct: Can we postpone the meeting?
     Indirect: Would it be possible for us to postpone the meeting?
     Note: We use Would it be possible in the indirect question when we ask about the possibility of something.

You can see other topics about asking question in these links:

Wah How to use "Tell + How / Where / When / What + To + Verb"

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