Indirect Questions for Polite, Natural English
Ask for information more diplomatically in professional, formal and everyday situations.
Understand · You say · Check
A clear route through the lesson
Use statement order inside the indirect part. The whole sentence determines punctuation: Could you tell me…? asks a question, while I’m not sure whether… is a statement.
Read the explanations, answer aloud at each You say pause, then reveal the model and check one point. A model is one possible answer. Finish with the 5-question understanding check.
Keep the learner’s speaking time. At each You say pause, use the suggested follow-up and one correction focus. Finish with the 5-question understanding check.
An event information gap
Ask about the time, room and agenda before opening the event card. If studying with a tutor, let the tutor read the card and answer your questions.
Event card: reveal the answers
The workshop starts at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in Room 4. The agenda is on the event website. Bring a laptop. Registration is still open. The room changed because the original room was too small.
Listen, then say it
Listen to the complete openings and statement word order. Repeat one question, then change a detail.
Read the audio transcript
When does the workshop start? Could you tell me when the workshop starts? Does registration close today? Do you know whether registration closes today? Could you explain why the room changed? I’m not sure whether lunch is included.
Direct or indirect?
A direct question is clear and often appropriate. An indirect question adds a polite opening and can sound more diplomatic.
Indirect: Could you tell me where the meeting room is?
The key word-order rule
After the opening phrase, use statement word order. Do not invert the subject and verb, and do not use do, does or did inside the indirect part.
Information questions
Could you tell me when the presentation starts?
Yes / No questions
Do you know if the client has replied?
Useful openings
- Could you tell me…?
- Do you know…?
- I was wondering if…
- Would you mind telling me…?
- Could you clarify…?
- I’m not sure whether… (a statement opening, normally ending with a full stop)
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Could you tell me where is the station? Better: Could you tell me where the station is?
- Wrong: Do you know when does it begin? Better: Do you know when it begins?
- Use if or whether when there is no question word.
Practice
Rewrite these as indirect questions.
- Where can I find the agenda?
- Has the manager approved the proposal?
- When will the interview finish?
- Why did the schedule change?
- Is the position still available?
Possible answers
- Could you tell me where I can find the agenda?
Why: Keep I can find in statement order after where.
- Do you know whether the manager has approved the proposal?
Why: Use whether or if for the embedded yes/no question.
- I was wondering when the interview will finish.
Why: Use statement order, the interview will finish. This opening is written as a statement.
- Could you clarify why the schedule changed?
Why: Remove did and use the past form changed after the subject.
- Do you know if the position is still available?
Why: Use if or whether, then the position is in statement order.
Optional extension: a longer speaking task
Your teacher has information about an event, project or interview. Prepare six indirect questions to discover the missing details. After receiving the answers, summarize the plan and ask one final clarification question.
Continue with the Professional English Hub for workplace speaking, meetings, presentations and email lessons.
Final check
Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Read the context carefully: a question may ask for a particular form, meaning or register. The explanations show why that answer fits.
0 of 5 questions answered
Practise this skill in a personalized lesson
Use these ideas in conversation, receive precise correction and build confidence with material adapted to your goals.
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