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Indirect question Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 1 minute

Form : ( Indirect question phrase + question word / if / whether + subject + verb )

In English, in more formal situations, we often use indirect questions because they sound more polite.

To make a question more polite we often begin with an indirect question phrase such as:

  • Could you tell me...?
  • Do you know...?
  • Have you any idea...?
  • Can you tell me...?


Example questions :

DIRECT QUESTION : Where is the post office?

INDIRECT QUESTION : Do you know where the post office is?

DIRECT QUESTION : What's the time?

INDIRECT QUESTION : Could you tell me what the time is?

DIRECT QUESTION : Does this train go to Brighton?

INDIRECT QUESTION : Can you tell me if this train goes to Brighton?

DIRECT QUESTION : Is there a bank nearby?

INDIRECT QUESTION : Have you any idea whether there is a bank nearby?


Note for use of indirect questions :

If the direct question begins with an auxiliary verb ( no question word), add 'if' or 'whether' after an indirect question phrase to make the question indirect.

We don't use 'if' or whether with Do you think...?

eg. Do you think he's gone to London? NOT Do you think if he's gone to London?

Indirect question example sentences
Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then?أجل، لقد نسيت، متى تعتقد أنه يمكننا المقابلة، إذًا؟
When do you think you are going to look for houses again?متي تعتقدي أنك ستذهبين لرؤية منازل مرة أخرى؟
Do you know how much the tickets are?هل تعلم ما هى تكلفة التذاكر؟
Do you know how old this station is?هل تعلم ماهو عمر هذه المحطة؟
Can you tell me what you are planning then?هل يمكنكِ أن تخبريني ماذا تخططين إذاً؟
Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please?هل يمكنك أن تفسر لي لماذا يجب علي أن أدفع 30 يورو إضافية كل اسبوع؟
Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket?نعم انا جاهزة, هل تعتقد أننى سأكون بحاجة الى معطف؟
When do you think you will be leaving?متى تعتقد انك سوف تغادر؟
Can you tell me where you are taking me first?هل يمكنك أن تخبريني إلى أين ستأخذيني أولًا؟
Don't you think it's better to live upstairs?ألا تعتقد انه من الأفضل ان تعيش فى الاعلى؟
Can you please tell me where it is?هل يمكنك من فضلك ان تخبرنى اين هى؟
Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month..هل تعتقد أنه يمكننا الحصول على منزل مقابل 1200 شهريًا
Do you know what time it is?هل تعلمين ماهو الوقت الان؟
How long do you think it's going to take to be ready?ماهى المدة التى سيستغرقها ليكون جاهزاً فى إعتقادك؟
I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here?مازلت أتفقد، هل تعتقدي أنه يمكنني تجربة بعض البق هنا؟
Erm, what do you think she could do to them?امم، ماذا تعتقدي انها قد تفعل بهم؟
Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho?هل تعرفين كيف ستذهب الفتيات الى سوهو؟
Do you know where the kitchen is?هل تعلمين أين المطبخ؟
Do you think we can let him go out?هل تعتقدى انه يمكننا ان نتركه يخرج؟
How much do you think renting a house would cost?كم تعتقد سيكلفنا تأجير منزل؟

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Be going to
Be going to passive
Be used to / Get used to
Comparative
Defining relative clause
Echo tag
Expression
First conditional
Future
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Future perfect passive
Future perfect simple
Future simple passive
Greeting
Have/Get something done
Imperative
Implied conditional
Indirect question
Infinitive of purpose
Interjection
Mixed conditional
Modal
Modal passive
Non-defining relative clause
Other
Past continuous
Past continuous passive
Past perfect continuous
Past perfect passive
Past perfect simple
Past simple
Past simple passive
Polite request / offer / suggestion
Present continuous
Present continuous passive
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect passive
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Present simple passive
Question tag
Reduced relative clause
Reported speech imperative
Reported speech question
Reported speech request
Reported speech statement
Second conditional
Short answer
Superlative
Third conditional
Used to / would (past habit)
Was/were going to
Was/were supposed to
Wish
Would rather
Zero conditional