Quick answer. An indirect question puts a question inside a polite phrase or another sentence. After the opening phrase, use statement word order: Could you tell me where the station is?, not where is the station. Use if or whether when the original question has a yes/no answer.
These indirect questions exercises focus on word order, auxiliaries, and polite question forms. They are designed for A2–B1 learners who know direct questions but still copy their inversion after phrases such as Do you know…? and Could you tell me…?
Direct and indirect questions
| Direct question | Indirect question | Key change |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the bank? | Could you tell me where the bank is? | statement word order |
| What time does it start? | Do you know what time it starts? | remove does; add -s |
| Why did she leave? | Do you know why she left? | remove did; use past form |
| Is the shop open? | Do you know if the shop is open? | add if or whether |
| Can he help us? | Could you tell me whether he can help us? | modal stays after subject |
The basic formula
Wh-question: opening phrase + question word + subject + verb.
Yes/no question: opening phrase + if/whether + subject + verb.
- Could you tell me where she lives?
- Do you know when the lesson starts?
- I wonder why they cancelled the meeting.
- Could you tell me if this seat is free?
The question mark depends on the whole sentence. Could you tell me…? is a question, so it ends with a question mark. I wonder… is a statement, so it normally ends with a full stop.
Typical mistakes for Russian-speaking learners
| Mistake | Correct form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Do you know where is he? | Do you know where he is? | No inversion inside the indirect part. |
| Can you tell me where does she work? | Can you tell me where she works? | Remove does and mark the main verb. |
| I wonder did they arrive. | I wonder if they arrived. | Use if/whether for yes/no meaning. |
| Could you tell me what means this word? | Could you tell me what this word means? | Subject comes before the verb. |
| Do you know when will he come? | Do you know when he will come? | The modal follows the subject. |
Exercise 1: make indirect questions
Rewrite each direct question using the phrase in brackets.
- Where is the nearest pharmacy? (Could you tell me…?)
- What time does the museum close? (Do you know…?)
- Why did Anna cancel the meeting? (I wonder…)
- How much does this ticket cost? (Could you tell me…?)
- When will the results be ready? (Do you know…?)
- Who is responsible for the project? (Could you tell me…?)
- How can I reset my password? (Do you know…?)
- Where were they staying? (I wonder…)
Answers to Exercise 1
- Could you tell me where the nearest pharmacy is?
- Do you know what time the museum closes?
- I wonder why Anna cancelled the meeting.
- Could you tell me how much this ticket costs?
- Do you know when the results will be ready?
- Could you tell me who is responsible for the project?
- Do you know how I can reset my password?
- I wonder where they were staying.
Exercise 2: if or whether
Complete the sentences with if or whether. In some sentences both forms are possible.
- Do you know ___ the library is open on Sunday?
- Could you tell me ___ I need to book in advance?
- We need to decide ___ to accept the offer.
- I wonder ___ he has received my message.
- She asked ___ the train had already left.
- It depends on ___ the weather improves.
Answers to Exercise 2
- if/whether
- if/whether
- whether
- if/whether
- if/whether
- whether
Use whether before to + verb and after a preposition. In ordinary embedded yes/no questions, both forms are often possible.
Exercise 3: find and correct the mistake
- Could you tell me where is platform six?
- Do you know why did the lesson finish early?
- I wonder can we pay by card.
- Could you tell me what time does the bus arrive?
- Do you know when will Sarah call us?
- I would like to know is breakfast included.
Answers to Exercise 3
- Could you tell me where platform six is?
- Do you know why the lesson finished early?
- I wonder if/whether we can pay by card.
- Could you tell me what time the bus arrives?
- Do you know when Sarah will call us?
- I would like to know if/whether breakfast is included.
Exercise 4: choose the correct word order
- Do you know where she works / where does she work?
- Could you tell me what this button does / what does this button do?
- I wonder why he is late / why is he late.
- Do you know if the room has Wi-Fi / does the room have Wi-Fi?
- Could you tell me when the next train leaves / when does the next train leave?
Answers to Exercise 4
- where she works
- what this button does
- why he is late
- if the room has Wi-Fi
- when the next train leaves
Polite phrases you can reuse
| Phrase | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Do you know…? | neutral | Do you know where Tom is? |
| Could you tell me…? | polite | Could you tell me when it starts? |
| Would you mind telling me…? | very polite | Would you mind telling me how this works? |
| I wonder… | neutral statement | I wonder why they changed the date. |
| I would like to know… | formal | I would like to know whether breakfast is included. |
Self-check
Before opening the answers, underline the subject and the verb in each indirect part. If the verb comes before the subject, check whether you accidentally kept direct-question inversion. Then look for do, does, or did: these auxiliaries normally disappear inside the embedded question, while tense marking moves to the main verb.
Three-point checklist
- Did I use statement word order after the question word?
- Did I remove do/does/did and change the main verb correctly?
- Did I add if/whether for a yes/no question?
Related grammar practice
Continue with question tags exercises for short confirmation questions, reported speech exercises for reporting statements and questions, and relative clauses exercises for another type of embedded clause. For mixed revision, use mixed tenses exercises, conjunctions exercises, and the English tenses test.
FAQ
What level are indirect questions?
The basic pattern is usually studied at A2–B1. More formal openings and the difference between if and whether are useful at B1–B2.
Are indirect questions the same as reported questions?
They share statement word order, but the purpose differs. An indirect question politely asks for information now; a reported question tells us what somebody asked earlier.
Can I use “that” in an indirect question?
Not as the normal connector for a real embedded question. Use a question word, or use if/whether for yes/no meaning.
