When we make direct question from a normal sentence, we swop the Subject of the sentence with the Auxiliary Verb. If necessary we also use a Wh? question word (which, who, what, when etc). In order to use an indirect question,the sentence structure returns back to that of a normal sentence, and we use a polite phrase to lead into the question:
DIRECT | Aux/Wh? | Subject | Verb + ..... |
QUESTION | When was | the house | built? |
Was | the house | built in 1980? | |
Have | you | been working hard? |
NORMAL | Subject | Aux | Verb + ..... |
SENTENCE | The house | was | built in 1980. |
You | have | been working hard. |
INDIRECT | |||
QUESTION | |||
Do you know when | the house | was | built? |
Do you know if | the house | was | built in 1980? |
Can you tell me if | you | have | been working hard? |
We do not use do/does/did with indirect questions in the present or past simple:
DIRECT | Do/Does/Did | Subject | Verb + ..... |
QUESTION | Does | the film | start at 8pm? |
Do | you | know him? | |
Did | they | forget? |
NORMAL | Subject | Aux | Verb + ..... |
SENTENCE | The film | starts at 8pm. | |
You | know him. | ||
They | forgot. |
INDIRECT | |||
QUESTION | |||
Do you know when | the film | starts? | |
Could you tell me if | you | know him? | |
Do you know if | they | forgot? |
Advanced and proficiency students don't need much controlled practice, but you might like to go through some exercises with intermediate of upper-intermediate students (A2 and B1). Get the students to convert the following questions into indirect questions:
As a follow-on exercise, give the students some blank flashcards and get them to write their own direct questions onto them. Shuffle them up, and distribute them around the class. The students need to change them into indirect questions.
Questions are such an integral part of all my lessons, especially when revising vocabulary (see Vocabulary Games), that I don't normally specifically plan exercises around them. When the students are doing role plays, interviews, or revising vocabulary by asking each other questions, I simply specify that they have to use indirect questions during that particular exercise.
return to English Grammar Lessons from Indirect Questions
return to Home Page