Language
English
Level
B1
Unit
Questions and Word Order
Practice types
0

What this grammar point covers

Indirect questions are sentences where you ask a question in a more polite or formal way, often inside another sentence.

When to use it

Use indirect questions when you want to be polite, formal, or when the question is part of a longer sentence.

Key forms

  • Do you know + question word + subject + verb?
  • Can you tell me + if/whether + subject + verb?
  • I wonder + question word + subject + verb

Examples

Can you tell me where the station is?

Do you know if she is coming?

I wonder what time it starts.

Could you tell me how much this costs?

Do you remember when we met?

Tips

  • In indirect questions, do not use the auxiliary verb 'do/does/did' like in direct questions.
  • The word order is subject + verb, not verb + subject.
  • Do not use a question mark unless the whole sentence is a question.

Exceptions and edge cases

  • If the indirect question starts the sentence, use a period (.) at the end, not a question mark.

Keep exploring

Previous Question forms B1 · Questions and Word Order Next Reported speech (statements and questions) B1 · Passive and Reported Speech