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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
Can you tell me where you are taking me first?Kannst du mir zuerst sagen, wohin du mich bringst?
Erm, what do you think she could do to them?Ähm, was meinst du könnte sie ihnen antun?
Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please?Kannst du mir bitte erklären weshalb wir £30 mehr pro Woche zahlen müssen?
I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here?Ich schaue immer noch. Denkst du ich kann hier ein paar Käfer ausprobieren?
Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too?Hey, denkst du nicht, dass Diego auch mitkommen möchte?
Where do you think we can get a house?Wo können wir deiner Meinung nach ein Haus finden?
Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month.Denkst du nicht, dass wir ein Haus für 1200 pro Monat finden können?
How much do you think there is?Was meinst du, wie viel noch übrig ist?
When do you think you are going to look for houses again?Wann denkst du wirst du dich wieder nach Häusern umsehen?
Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then?Ja, das habe ich vergessen. Wann sollten wir uns dann treffen?
But why do you think we should leave the house?Aber warum denkst du sollten wir das Haus verlassen?
That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices?Das ist Wahnsinn. Meinst du wir können die Preise verhandeln?
Do you know how old this station is?Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist?
Don't you think it's better to live upstairs?Denkst du nicht, dass es besser ist oben zu wohnen?
Do you know if he has got a girlfriend?Weißt du ob er eine Freundin hat?
Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then?Wer möchte das schon? Kannst du mir dann sagen, wo du leben möchtest?
Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket?Ja, ich bin bereit. Denkst du, dass ich eine Jacke brauchen werde?
When do you think we can have the meeting?Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen?
How many people do you think you are going to cook for?Was meinst du, für wie viele Personen du kochen wirst?
Do you think it will help us get a table?Denkst du das wird helfen einen Tisch zu bekommen?

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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