English — Grammar: Indirect Questions (structure and usage) — 4th Year Middle School — Algerian Curriculum

Indirect Questions: Structure and Usage

Indirect questions are more polite. We introduce them with phrases like “Could you tell me…” or “Do you know…”.

Direct vs Indirect

Where is the station? → Could you tell me where the station is?

What time is it? → Do you know what time it is?

Why is he late? → I wonder why he is late.

Did she arrive? → Can you tell me if she arrived?

Rules

• Wh-questions: Keep wh-word, change to subject+verb (no inversion).
• Yes/No questions: Use “if” or “whether”.

Introductory Phrases

Could you tell me… / Do you know… / I wonder… / Can you explain… / I’d like to know… / Would you mind telling me…

Examples

• How much does it cost? → Could you tell me how much it costs?
• Where does she live? → Do you know where she lives?
• Is it open? → I wonder if it is open.

Common Mistakes

WRONG: Could you tell me where is the bank?
RIGHT: Could you tell me where the bank is?

Exercise

1. Where is the nearest hospital?
2. What did he say?
3. Are you coming?

Answers: 1. Could you tell me where the nearest hospital is? 2. Do you know what he said? 3. Can you tell me if you are coming?

See also: question words and reported speech.

📍 دروس مشابهة:

• علم الأعصاب الإدراكي: آليات الذاكرة والتعلم
• Français — Grammaire: Les adverbes de lieu (ici, là, dedans, dehors, etc.) — 3ème Année Primaire — Programme Algérien
• علم الاجتماع — نظريات علم الاجتماع: نظرية الصراع