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?

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...)

How do you say this in English?
(Start with: I'd like to know...)

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

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

Exercise

Complete the job interview!
Be sure to always pick the best answer.

Interviewer: Let's talk about your previous job.
[A, B, C or D?]

Michelle: Well, my duties included answering the phone and dealing with customers.

1. What did you do?
2. Could you tell me what your responsibilities were?
3. What was your job?
4. Was it very difficult?

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

Michelle: Well, after five years at the same company, I was looking for a challenge.

1. Could you explain why you quit?
2. Why did you quit?
3. Were you fired or what?
4. Did you not like your job?

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

Michelle: Yes. Your company is well-known around the world!

1. Do you want to work for our company?
2. So, now you have decided that working for us is your next step.
3. Could you tell us why you'd like to work for our company?
4. And now you're applying for a job at our company?

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

Michelle: Well, I'm a perfectionist, which is both good and bad.

1. Strengths? Weaknesses?
2. What are you really good or really bad at?
3. Anything else?
4. Would it be possible to tell us more about your strengths and weaknesses?

Interviewer: Thank you! [A, B, C or D?]

1. Can you please let us know if you could start next week?
2. You've got the job!
3. You will start next week.
4. You'll start next week?

Interviewer: Let's talk about your previous job.
[A, B, C or D?]

Michelle: Well, my duties included answering the phone and dealing with customers.

1. What did you do?
2. Could you tell me what your responsibilities were?
3. What was your job?
4. Was it very difficult?

Done!