Can you tell me where the

nearest bank is, please?

Do you know when the last

train is on Saturday night?
 Do you know how much the
tickets cost?

Can you tell me what time the

museum opens?
What kind of questions are they?
a) direct question b) indirect question
We usually request information by
These questions are... asking indirect questions. Indirect
questions are more polite and are
a) polite b) impolite often used with strangers or when
we are asking for a favor.
 direct question
Where is the nearest bank, please?

Can you tell me where the nearest bank is, please?

indirect question

The order of the main verb in the direct question is

inverted in the indirect question.
 direct question
How much does the ticket cost?

Do you know how much the ticket costs?

indirect question

The order of the main verb in the direct question is inverted in the
indirect question. But in this case we don’t repeat the auxiliary verb
as in the direct question. We conjugate the verb according to the
verb tense. In this case we used Simple Present conjugation.
 Direct question Indirect question
Where is the nearest Can you tell me where the
bank? nearest bank is?
When is the last train Do you know when the last
on Saturday night? traing is on Saturday night?
How much does the Do you know how much the
ticket cost? ticket costs?
What time does the Can you tell me what time
museum open? the museum opens?
 Do you have any brothers or sisters?
This is a yes/no question

Can you tell me if she has any brothers or sisters?

We use IF in the indirect question when the question is a yes/no

question.
Transform the direct questions into indirect questions. Use “Can you tell me”
or “Do you know”

1) Does she like chocolate?

Can you tell me / Do you know if she likes chocolate?
2) What time does the show start?
Do you know / Can you tell me what time the show starts?
3) What does Jim do?
Can you tell me / Do you know what Jim does?
4) How much is the scarf?
Can you tell me / Do you know how much the scarf is?
5) What is his name?
Do you know / Can you tell me what his name is?
6) Which countries did she visit?
Can you tell me / Do you know which countries she visited?
7) Where were the boxes?
Do you know / Can you tell me where the boxes were?
Ask indirect questions about the information below:

• It is 2 o’clock.
• Her name is Susan.
• My daughter is 8 years old.
• The lunch time is at midday.
• He is a good swimmer.
• The weather is hot today.
• I can run long distances.
• They watched a terrible movie yesterday.
• She has been doing physical exersices for weeks.
• The movie starts at 8 pm.
• The train station is next to the drugstore.