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B1+ Upper-intermediate
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Indirect questions

Use polite or embedded question introductions followed by statement word order rather than direct-question inversion.

Overview

What this grammar does

Use polite or embedded question introductions followed by statement word order rather than direct-question inversion.

Form and rules

How it works

1

After phrases such as Could you tell me..., Do you know..., I wonder..., use statement word order.

2

Keep a wh-word when the direct question has one: Where is it? → Do you know where it is?

3

For yes/no indirect questions, use if/whether: Do you know if the office is open?

4

Do not use do/does/did inside the embedded clause: Do you know where he works?

5

The outer question may take a question mark, while an embedded statement such as I wonder where he is does not need one.

A closer look

Meaning and use

Do not use do/does/did inside the embedded clause: Do you know where he works?

The outer question may take a question mark, while an embedded statement such as I wonder where he is does not need one.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

Could you tell me where the station is?

Do you know what time the meeting starts?

I wonder why she left early.

Can you tell me if this seat is free?

Do you know how much it costs?

Common mistakes

What to avoid

Could you tell me where the bank is the bank?
Could you tell me where the bank is?

Indirect questions use statement order: where the bank is.

Do you know what time the shop does the shop close?
Do you know what time the shop closes?

No do-support is used inside the embedded question.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.