Language
English
Level
B2
Unit
Reported and Indirect Speech
Practice types
0

What this grammar point covers

Indirect questions are questions that are included inside another sentence or question. They are more polite and formal than direct questions.

When to use it

Use indirect questions when you want to ask something politely, when reporting what someone else asked, or when you are unsure about something.

Key forms

  • Introductory phrase + question word + subject + verb
  • Introductory phrase + if/whether + subject + verb

Examples

Can you tell me where the station is?

I don't know if she will come.

Do you know what time it is?

Could you explain how this works?

He asked whether I liked coffee.

Tips

  • In indirect questions, do not use the auxiliary 'do/does/did'.
  • The word order is like a normal sentence, not like a direct question.
  • Use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions.

Keep exploring

Previous Reported speech B2 · Reported and Indirect Speech Next Relative clauses defining B2 · Relative and Participle Clauses