Resource centre English grammar teaching indirect questions

Indirect questions

Word order

If we do not begin a question directly, but begin it with something like:
Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder if...? the word order is the same as in an affirmative statement.

Direct question: What is he doing?
Indirect question: Do you know what he is doing?
Direct question: Where have they been?
Indirect question: I wonder where they have been?

Do, does, did

If the direct question contains do, does or did, we omit it in the indirect question.

Direct question: What do you want?
Indirect question: Can you tell me what you want?
Direct question: When did she leave?
Indirect question: Do you know when she left?

Yes/no questions

In yes / no questions, we use if or whether (the word order is the same as in reported questions).

Direct question: Have you seen my dog?
Indirect question: Could you tell me if you have seen my dog?


See also  Questions | Tag questions | Reported questions

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