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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
Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission?هل هذا يعني أنك ستطلب عمولة؟
Can you please tell me where it is?هل يمكنك من فضلك ان تخبرنى اين هى؟
Do you know why they built this enormous pier?هل تعلم لماذا قاموا ببناء هذا الرصيف العملاق؟
Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box?هل تعتقد اننى يجب أن أخرج بوجو من الصندوق الخاص به؟
Do you think we should pay for it?هل تعتقد انه يجب علينا ان ندفع مقابل ذلك؟
How many people do you think you are going to cook for?كم عدد الأشخاص تعتقدى انكِ ستقومين بالطهى لهم؟
That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices?هذا ضرب من الجنون، هل تعتقد أنه يمكننا التفاوض في الأسعار؟
Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please?هل يمكنك أن تخبرني، يانيك، كم يدفعون، من فضلك؟
How much do you think renting a house would cost?كم تعتقد سيكلفنا تأجير منزل؟
Do you think we should buy the return tickets now?هل تعتقد انه يجب علينا شراء تذاكر العودة الان؟
Do you think it will help us get a table?هل تعتقد أن هذا سيساعدنا في الحصول على طاولة؟
I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here?مازلت أتفقد، هل تعتقدي أنه يمكنني تجربة بعض البق هنا؟
Where do you think we can get a house?من أين تعتقدي يمكننا الحصول على منزل؟
Do you know what colour the packet is?هل تعلمين ماهو لون العبوة؟
Erm, what do you think she could do to them?امم، ماذا تعتقدي انها قد تفعل بهم؟
Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now?هل لديكِ خطة عما ستفعلينه الآن؟
Do you know if he has got a girlfriend?هل تعلمى اذا ماكان لديه صديقة؟
How much do you think there is?كم يوجد هناك تعتقد؟
But why do you think we should leave the house?لكن لماذا تعتقدين أنه يجب علينا مغادرة المنزل؟
When do you think we can have the meeting?متى تعتقدى انه يمكننا عمل الإجتماع؟

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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