Indirect Questions How do you make indirect questions? When do you use this grammar?

Indirect Questions have the same function as regular questions, but the grammar is a little different. Here are some examples:

Examples... Regular Question: What will the weather be like tomorrow? Why were you absent yesterday? Where is the bookstore? Indirect Question: I wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow? Can you tell me why you were absent yesterday? Do you know where the bookstore is?

Structure: This grammar starts with an introductory clause. This is a main clause. It can be a sentence or a question.

Main clause: Id like to know… Tell me… I need to know… I wonder… Do you know…? Can you tell me…? Do you have any idea…? Dependent clause: Wh- questions: …WHEN the bus arrives. …WHERE Susan is. …HOW much the book costs. Yes/No questions: …IF we have a test today? …WHETHER Susan is sick? …IF its going to rain?

Lets see what happens in such questions and statements: 1. What is the problem? Do you Know what the problem is? I dont know what the problem is. 2. Which site do you use? Do you know which site you use? I wonder which site you use.

3. Where does he go? Do you know where he goes? 4. Why did the man complain? I have no idea why the man complained. 5. Should we leave? I wonder whether/if we should leave. 6. Does he visit them? Can you remember whether/if he visits them?

Grammar Tips: Remember: we only use DO, DOES, and DID in Questions and negatives. When you are writing the dependent clause in an Indirect Question, do NOT use Do, Does, or Did. Example 1. Direct question:Where did the teacher go? indirect question:Do you know WHERE the teacher went? Not: Do you know WHERE did the teacher go?

* Indirect WH- questions have a dependent clause that begins with a WH- word: who, what, when, where, why, how Can you tell me why they were absent? Id like to know when she left. *Indirect Yes/No questions have a dependent clause that begins with: if, whether(*whether = more formal) Can you tell me whether Al-Hilal won? Id like to know if she passed the test. If the introductory clause is a question (like can you remember..?), then the whole sentence ends with a question mark (?) If the introductory clause is a statement (like I wonder..) then the whole sentence is a statement and ends with a full- stop (.).

USE: You can use an indirect question any time you use a regular question. Indirect questions are often more polite because they have a polite introductory clause: Could you tell me…? Do you know…?

Practice! On your own paper, rewrite each regular question as an indirect question. Then give your paper to your teacher to correct. 1. Where is the restroom? (use: Do you know…?) Do you know where the restroom is? 2. Where did Janet go? (use: Can you tell me…?) Can you tell me where janet went? 3. When is our winter break? (use:Do you have any idea…?) Do you have an idea when our winter break is? 4. Why did she leave? (use: Id like to know…) Id like to know why she left. 5.What were you doing at 5:00? (use: I wonder…..) I wonder what you were doing at 5:00.

Indirect yes/no questions (if or whether) 6. Is the teacher sick today? (use: Do you know…?) Do you know if/whether the teacher is sick today? 7. Was she absent yesterday? (use: Can you tell me…?) Can you tell me if/whether she was absent yesterday? 8. Did Paul leave class early? (use: Do you know…?) Do you know if/whether Paul left class early? 9. Does Janet have a cell phone? (use: I wonder…) I wonder if/whether Janet has a cell phone. 10.Do your kids speak English well? (use: Tell me…) Tell me if/whether your kids speak English well.

This grammar can be tough…. So be sure to ask your teacher or other classmates for help if you need it. Remember: practice makes perfect! So review your notes and your textbook!