Indirect Questions

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Indirect Questions make requests or questions softer and more polite. We use indirect speech when we are talking to someone we don’t know very well or in professional situations.

Question Form:

Could you tell me	what time the post closes? if the post is closed?
Do you know
Do you happen to know
Do you have any idea

Statement Form:

I was wondering	what time the post closes. if the post is closed.
I’d like to know
I can’t remember
I have no idea

We omit do, does, and did in indirect questions.
The word order after the question word is the same as in a positive statement (e.g., The post closes at 6:00pm).

Direct and Indirect Examples:

Direct	What time *does* the post close?
Indirect	Could you tell me what time the post closes?

Use if or whether in Yes/No questions:

Direct	Is the post closed?
Indirect	Could you tell me if the post is closed?

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Try Our Indirect Questions Activities

Celebrity Reporters

Students ask each other indirect questions about famous people. A speaking activity using indirect questions and statements.

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