Curso de Inglés Avanzado Lección 10

Look at these four questions. Which are direct questions and which are indirect questions?

· Indirect questions often sound more polite than direct questions.
· Use them when you need to ask for information in formal situations.

· Here are some expressions you can use to make indirect questions.

Would you mind (+verb+ing) - Would you mind telling me what you do for a living?
Could you tell me… - Could you tell me what time the next train leaves?
Do you know…. – Do you know what time the film starts?
I’d be interested to know…. – I’d be interested to know how much it costs
I was wondering if you could tell me… - I was wondering if you could tell me where the nearest supermarket is?

Compare the difference between direct and indirect questions. Notice the changes.

DIRECT	INDIRECT
What’s your name?	Could you tell me what your name is?
Are you working at the moment?	Would you mind telling me if you are working at the moment?
When do the banks close?	I was wondering what time the banks close.
Are you married?	Could you tell me if you are married?
Is there a park near here?	I’d be interested to know if there is a park near here?
Where’s the entrance?	Do you know where the entrance is?

Direct question: Where is the supermarket?
Indirect question: Could you tell me where the supermarket is?

· In indirect questions with the verb 'to be', the verb (is) goes after the subject (the supermarket).

Direct question: What time does the bar open?
Indirect question: Do you know what time the bar opens?

· In indirect questions, we remove the auxiliary verbs do, does and did. Remember the 's' on the verb if it's in the third person (openS)

Direct question: Why did you come to Valencia?
Indirect question: I was wondering why you came to Valencia.

· Notice that the order of the subject (you) and the verb (come/came) changes. "Why did you come"? (question) changes to "Why you came" (statement - I was wondering why you came).

Here's an example with an auxiliary verb (have):

Direct question: How long have you lived in Spain?
Indirect question: I'm curious to know how long you have lived in Spain.

· If the direct question is a 'yes'/'no' question (Are you married? - Yes/No) use 'if' or 'whether' in the indirect question:
· Note: A 'yes'/'no' type question has no question word (what, who, when, where, why, or how)

Direct question: Are you married?
Indirect question: Would you mind telling me if you are married?

Direct question: Does your girlfriend speak Spanish?
Indirect question: Could you tell me whether your girlfriend speaks Spanish?

Direct question: Have you ever worked abroad?
Indirect question: I'd like to know if you've ever worked abroad.