Indirect Questions Teaching Capsule

Teaching Capsule By Patty Villacorta-Melendreras

Indirect questions

TJ Patty Villacorta-Melendreras

SPECIFIC NFORMATION• CLARIFICATION• NOT SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Questions in General


Some questions have no answers


DIRECT QUESTIONS (DQ)

DQ begin with a “WH Word or with a verb like “DO” and end in a question mark. (?)


INDIRECT QUESTIONS• A sentence formed by two parts:

INTRODUCTION + INDIRECT QUESTION

INTRODUCTION

INDIRECT QUESTION


Introductory phrases

• I don’t know• I wonder• I can’t remember• I have no idea• I’d like to know• I’m not sure

.


Introductory phrases Indirect Question

• Could you tell me• Do you know• Do you happen to know• Have you got any idea• Do you remember• Would you mind telling me

?


Look at these sentences1. Where does she live?2. I want to know where she lives.3. Can you tell me where she lives?

There is no “does” in 2 and 3.

They are indirect questions.

And sentence 1 is direct question.

What is the difference?


Direct questions Indirect questionsQuestion with question word

What time did the plane leave?

She wonders what time the plane left.

Introductory phrase + WH-word + PERSON + VERB THING


Introductory phrase + wh-word + positive statement

When will Luisa arrive?

Could you tell me when Luisa will arrive?

The question mark here corresponds to the

introduction because it begins with a verb.


Are they in the cafeteria?

Do you know if they are in the cafeteria?whether

In a YES/NO question, use IF/WHETER to introduce the indirect

question.


Introductory phrase + whether/if + positive statement

Do you like Coke or Pepsi ?

I can’t remember if you like Coke or Pepsi.whether

NEVER, never, never use DO in the indirect question segment. It

introduces a YES/NO question; therefore, use IF/WHETER


Indirect questionsIN GENERAL

Introductory phrase

wh-word

+ if +

whether

Positive statementPerson + verb

Education

Indirect Questions Teaching Capsule