Indirect questions exercises with answers

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…?

Русский разбор перед упражнениями

Смысл правила: В indirect question после вводной фразы идет обычный порядок слов: subject + verb. Это уже не прямой вопрос внутри фразы.

Эта страница остается тренировкой английского: ответы пишем на английском, но перед заданиями быстро сверяем русский смысл, чтобы не выбирать форму наугад.

Перевод ключевых примеров

Как думать по-русски и сказать по-английски

Типичная ошибка русскоязычных

Переход к упражнениям: Сейчас тренируем порядок слов после вежливой вводной фразы. Сначала прочитайте русский смысл, затем закройте перевод и выполните задания ниже.

Direct and indirect questions

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

Exercise 1: make indirect questions

Rewrite each direct question using the phrase in brackets.

1. Where is the nearest pharmacy? (Could you tell me…?)
2. What time does the museum close? (Do you know…?)
3. Why did Anna cancel the meeting? (I wonder…)
4. How much does this ticket cost? (Could you tell me…?)
5. When will the results be ready? (Do you know…?)
6. Who is responsible for the project? (Could you tell me…?)
7. How can I reset my password? (Do you know…?)
8. Where were they staying? (I wonder…)

Exercise 2: if or whether

Complete the sentences with if or whether. In some sentences both forms are possible.

1. Do you know ___ the library is open on Sunday?
2. Could you tell me ___ I need to book in advance?
3. We need to decide ___ to accept the offer.
4. I wonder ___ he has received my message.
5. She asked ___ the train had already left.
6. It depends on ___ the weather improves.

Exercise 3: find and correct the mistake

1. Could you tell me where is platform six?
2. Do you know why did the lesson finish early?
3. I wonder can we pay by card.
4. Could you tell me what time does the bus arrive?
5. Do you know when will Sarah call us?
6. I would like to know is breakfast included.

Exercise 4: choose the correct word order

1. Do you know where she works / where does she work?
2. Could you tell me what this button does / what does this button do?
3. I wonder why he is late / why is he late.
4. Do you know if the room has Wi-Fi / does the room have Wi-Fi?
5. Could you tell me when the next train leaves / when does the next train leave?

Polite phrases you can reuse

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.

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.

Подсказка для русскоязычных учеников

В indirect question после вводной фразы идет обычный порядок слов: subject + verb. Это уже не прямой вопрос внутри фразы.

Типичная ошибка русскоязычных

Русскоязычные часто оставляют вопросительный порядок: Could you tell me where is the station? Правильно: where the station is.

Примеры с переводом

Как потренироваться

• Закройте начало Could you tell me и проверьте хвост: он должен звучать как утверждение.
• После ответа вслух объясните выбор одной короткой фразой.
• Если ошибка повторяется, выпишите не правило целиком, а одну рабочую пару: wrong -> correct.

Учебная тренировка

Этот блок помогает не просто прочитать правило, а проверить себя: сравните форму, исправьте типичные ошибки и сделайте короткий перевод с русского на английский.

Форма, смысл и частая ошибка

EN/RU-примеры

Типичная ошибка русскоязычных

Упражнение 1. Найдите и исправьте ошибку

1. Do you know where does he live?
2. Can you tell me what time is it?
3. I wonder does she know.
4. Tell me where did you go.
5. Do you know why is he late?

Упражнение 2. Переведите на английский

1. Ты знаешь, где она живет?
2. Не подскажете, который час?
3. Интересно, готов ли он.

Мини-тест

1. Главное правило indirect question?
2. Yes/no question вводим через?
3. После `where` в indirect question идет?
4. `Could you tell me` делает вопрос?
5. Нужен ли `do` внутри `where she lives`?

Что повторить дальше

Маршрут лучше проходить по смыслу: сначала база, затем соседняя тема, потом смешанная практика.

• Вернитесь к разделу грамматики
• Откройте общий раздел тестов
• повторите questions exercises
• повторите subject object questions exercises
• повторите question tags exercises