Indirect Questions Glion

Direct questions - "wh" questions
What is your name?

Why do you want this job?
How much do you earn?
How soon can you start?
When did you see the advertisement?
Where do you live?
Which newspaper did you see the advertisement in?
Who gave you my name?
Indirect questions in English
word order
If we do not begin a question directly, but begin it with something like:
Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder if...? the word order is the
same as in an affirmative statement.
Direct question: What is he doing?

Indirect question: Do you know what he is doing?
Direct question: Where have they been?

Indirect question: I wonder where they have been?
do, does, did
If the direct question contains do, does or did, we omit it in
the indirect question.
Direct question: What do you want?

Indirect question: Can you tell me what you
yes/no questions
In yes / no questions, we use if or whether
Direct question: Have you seen my dog?

Indirect question: Could you tell me if you have seen my dog
If you want to ask a question that is
quite sensitive, try using one of the
indirect phrases below
I wonder if/whether...?
- I can't remember if/whether...?
- Could you tell me if/whether...?
- Would you mind telling me if/whether...?
- Would it be possible for you to...?
- Is there any chance you could...?
- I don't suppose you could...
- I'd like to know if/whether...
- I can't remember
Can you tell me
Could you tell me
I'd be interested to hear
I'd like to know
Would you mind telling me
a.Negative tag questions
Negative tag questions have already been discussed.
An affirmative statement is often followed by a negative
tag question, in order to ask for confirmation of the
affirmative statement. In the following examples, the
negative tag questions are underlined. Contractions are
usually used in negative tag questions.
e.g. You are coming with me, aren't

you?
You like coffee, don't you?
she is my team, ________?
They live together, _________?
For the Simple Present and the Simple Past
of the verb to be, tag questions are formed
using the verb itself. For instance, in the
following examples, the verbs is and were
are used in negative tag questions.
e.g. She is very nice, isn't she?

They were ready on time,
weren't they
He was in English class,_______?

For the Simple Present and the Simple Past
of verbs other than the verb to be, the
auxiliary to do is used in tag questions. For
instance, in the following examples, the
auxiliaries does and did are used in
negative tag questions.
e.g. He rides a bicycle, doesn't he?

They ordered pizza, didn't
they?
I am your friend, ______?
For all other tenses and conjugations, the first
auxiliary is used in tag questions. For instance, in
the following examples, the first auxiliaries have,
would, should and can are used in negative tag
questions.
e.g. You have worked all night, haven't you?

He would have helped us, wouldn't he?
They should get more exercise, shouldn't
they?
She can speak five languages, can't she?
She has been to England, _______?
You could come tomorrow, ________?
We can win this match,___________?
b. Affirmative tag questions
A negative statement is often followed by an

affirmative tag question, in order to ask for
confirmation of the negative statement, or in
order to ask for more information. In the following
examples, the affirmative tag questions are
underlined.
e.g. He is not very tall, is he?

They don't want to work, do they?
You are not in my class, ______?
She does not study at the UVM,
The rules for forming affirmative tag questions
are similar to those for forming negative tag
questions. In the case of the Simple Present and
Simple Past of the verb to be, the verb itself is
used; and in the case of all other tenses and
conjugations, the first auxiliary is used.
e.g. He wasn't much help, was he?

They didn't want to come with us, did they?
You hadn't slept well, had you?
She can't speak Greek, can she?
They wouldn't mind helping us, would they?
He didn`t speak french,__________?
You can`t come to class on sunday,_______?

Indirect Questions Glion

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Direct questions - "wh" questions

What is your name?

Direct question: What is he doing?

Direct question: Where have they been?

Direct question: What do you want?

Direct question: Have you seen my dog?

e.g. You are coming with me, aren't

e.g. She is very nice, isn't she?

He was in English class,_______?

e.g. He rides a bicycle, doesn't he?

e.g. You have worked all night, haven't you?

A negative statement is often followed by an

e.g. He is not very tall, is he?

e.g. He wasn't much help, was he?

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