1. Indirect
Questions

2. Look at these sentences:
Where does she live?
I want to know where she lives.
Can you tell me where she lives?
What is the difference?
 There is no “does” in sentences 2 and 3.
 They are indirect questions.
And sentence 1 is direct question.

3. What is indirect question?
A sentence that reports a question and ends with a period rather than a question mark.
>< Direct question: A sentence that asks a question and ends with a question mark.
They demand a response, but they are expressed as declarations without the formal characteristics of a question. So, they have no inversion, no interrogative words, and no special intonation.

4. Direct questions  Indirect questions
Question with question word
Question words:
Who: Who is that man?
Whom: To whom did you talked to yesterday?
Which: Which does she like, milk or wine?
What: What have you finished?
Where: Where will Mary spend on holiday?
When: When did the children go to bed?
How: How could they do that?

5. Direct questions  Indirect questions
Question with question word
What time did the train leave?
She wonders
what time
the train
leaved.
When will Susan arrive?
Could you tell me
when
Susan
will arrive?
Introductory phrase + wh-word + positive statement

6. Direct questions  indirect questions
Question without question word
Are they in the garden? if
Do you know
they are
in the garden?
whether
Did he break the vase? if
Mom wants to know
he broke
the vase.
whether

7. Direct questions  indirect questions
Question without question word
Do you like tea or coffee? if
I can’t remember
you like
tea or coffee.
whether
Introductory phrase + whether/if + positive statement

8. Direct questions  indirect questions
In general
wh-word
+ if +
whether
Positive statement
Introductory phrase

9. Direct questions  indirect questions
Asking for instruction
How can I start this machine?
Do you know how to start this machine?
How do you do this exercise?
Would you mind telling me how to do this exercise?
Use to – infinitive

10. Introductory phrase Could you tell me Do you know
Do you happen to know
Have you got any idea
Do you remember
Would you mind telling me
… ?

11. Introductory phrase I don’t know I wonder I can’t remember
I have no idea
I’d like to know
I’m not sure
… .

12. When do we use indirect question?
Consider the following situation:
At a meeting you, are talking to a man that you have never met. However, you know his name and also that this man knows a colleague named Jack. You turn to him and ask: “Where is Jack?”
The man seems a little bothered and says he doesn't know. He isn't very friendly.
Why so?

13. When do we use indirect question?
To make the questions sound “softer” or more polite
Did you use my pen?
vs. I’d like to know whether you used my pen.
What does he want?
vs. Would you mind telling me what he wants?
Have you finish your work?
vs. I wonder if you have finished your work.

14. Role – play
Student A: You are at the information desk of a hotel / an office block / a museum / etc. and want information about services, people, exhibitions, etc. Think of as many Indirect question as you can
Student B: You are a new receptionist and don’t know any information
Ex: A: Can you tell me where the toilet is?
B: Sorry, I don’t know where it is.

15. Suggestion You can ask about: Where is the lift?
How can I get to my room?
Is there refrigerator in the room?
Who is the manager here?
When should I come back here?
Which stamp should I buy?