Indirect Questions

Do you know what an indirect question is?

Indirect questions are questions or answers that contain an introduction before a question. There are a few  things to sep in mind when forming them:

1)  In a normal question (or direct question) the question order is question word >> auxiliary verb >> subject >> main verb >> complement.

BUT in an indirect question (or answer), the question order is introduction >> question word >> subject >> auxiliary verb >> main verb >> complement.

The most important difference is that the subject goes before the auxiliary verb.

2)  If there is a question word, this word introduces the question phrase. If there is no question word, the word if introduces the question phrase.

3)  The auxiliary verb do disappears in indirect speech. For lack of an auxiliary verb, the main verb reflects the tense and person of the verb.

Examples:

Direct: “What does this mean?”

Indirect: “Do you know what this means?”

Indirect: “I (don’t) know what this means.”

Direct: “Are there any maps of the city?”

Indirect: “Could you tell me if there are any maps of the city?”

Indirect: “I have no idea if there are any maps of the city.”

Direct: “What should I do now?”

Indirect: “Would you mind telling me what I should do now?”

Indirect: “I’m not sure what I should do now.”

Now you should know what an indirect question is!