Indirect questions

• Direct questions are the "normal" questions we ask to friends, family and people we know well.

• "Where's the bathroom?"• Indirect are more formal and polite; when

talking to a person we don't know well or in more professional situations.

• Could you tell me where the bathroom is?• She asked me where the bathroom is.

Some phrases to use as a beginning in indirect questions:

• Could you tell me.....?• Do you know.....?• I was wondering...?• Do you have any idea...?• I'd like to know...?• Would it be possible...?• Is there any chance...?

The structure of the questions changes

in indirect questions!1)Direct: Where is Market Street?

Forms of the verb BE (is, are, was, were) come after the subject (alus)

• Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?

2)Direct: What time does the bank open?

We don't use the auxiliary verb (do, does, did)

• Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?

• 3)Direct: Why did you move to Europe?

There's no auxiliary verb (did) as a result we say moved (not move)

• Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe?

4)Direct: How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?

Auxiliary verbs have/has/had come after the subject

• Indirect: Do you have any idea how he has managed to get into shape so quickly?

5)Direct: Can you finish the project by tomorrow?

For questions with the word can, we use Would it be possible in ID questions and we say to finish (not finish)

• Indirect: Would it be possible for you to finish the project by tomorrow?

YES/NO QUESTIONS (KAS- küsimused)

1)Direct: Does Tom like Italian food?

• Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food?

2)Direct: Are your parent joining us for dinner?

• Indirect: Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner?

3)Direct: Do they speak English

• Indirect: I was wondering if they speak English?

4)Direct: Do you plan on travelling this summer?

• Indirect: I'd like to know if you plan on travelling this summer?

Rules:

• No auxiliary verb (do/does, did)• Forms of the verbs BE and HAVE after the

subject• Can- Would it be possible?/ Is there any

chance?• Yes/no questions: If