Indirect Questions

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Direct vs. Indirect Questions

Direct vs. Indirect Questions

When we ask for information, we often use direct questions:
Where is it?

If we want to be more polite/formal, we use indirect questions:
Can you tell me where it is?

What is the direct question?

1. Could you tell me what time it is?
2. Do you know what time it is?
3. What time is it?
4. Would it be possible for you to let me know what time it is?

What is the indirect question?

1. Is Peter home?
2. Did Ellen reply to your email?
3. Why are you crying?
4. Could you tell me how long the trip will take?

How to form an indirect question...

Indirect questions often begin with:

- Could you
tell me ...;

- Can you tell me ...;

-  I’d like to know ...;

-  Do you know ...;

Exercise

Rewrite the direct questions as indirect questions.
Mind your spelling and punctuation. 

Where is the nearest hotel?
(Start with: Could you tell me...)

Woordvolgorde wijzigt:

vraagwoord - persoonsvorm - onderwerp

Vraagwoord - onderwerp - persoonsvorm.

How does he get there?
(Start with: I'd like to know...)

Hulpwerkwoord verdwijnt.

Werkwoord past zich aan.

Do you have this shirt in a smaller size?
(Start with: Can you tell me if...)
(Start with: I wonder whether...)

Begint de indirecte zin met een werkwoord, dan eindigt het met een vraagteken.

How long did the meeting take?
(Start with: Could you tell me...)

Exercise

Ask the witness!
Be sure to always pick the best answer.

Laywer: Let's talk about that day.
[A, B, C or D?]

Michelle: Well, I was walking in the hall to go to my next class.

1. Where were you?
2. Could you describe what you were doing?
3. What was your job?
4. Was it a very difficult day for you?

Interviewer: [A, B, C or D?]

Michelle: Well, I heard someone running towards me who was shouting to get out of the way.

1. Could you explain why you stopped?
2. Why did you stop?
3. Were you late for your next lesson?
4. Did you not like the defendant?

Interviewer: [A, B, C or D?]

Michelle: Yes. The running person was Harvey, the victim of the crime.

1. Do you have a description of the person running?
2. So, you know who the running person is.
3. Could you tell the court who the running person was?
4. And now you want to tell us?

Done!

Reader page 64 - exercise 1 + 2 (10 minutes)

Practice Letter of Opinion page 49 + 52 (hand in on Wednesday before class!)