ASKING

QUESTIONS
indirect ways

Elena Vázquez
 INDIRECT QUESTIONS
When do I use them?

Direct questions are often considered

rude when speaking to strangers. To be
more polite we often use INDIRECT
QUESTIONS.
Indirect questions serve the same
purpose as direct questions, but are
considered more formal.
 INDIRECT QUESTIONS
How do I do it?

Use an introductory phrase followed by the question

itself in positive/negative sentence structure.

Connect the two phrases with the question word

(who, where, when, why …) or ‘if/whether’ in the case
the question is a ‘yes/no’ question.

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

 INDIRECT QUESTIONS
Examples (I)

Direct question: how much do you earn?

Indirect question: Could you tell me how much you earn?

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

Could you tell me how much you earn?

 INDIRECT QUESTIONS
Examples (II)

Direct question: What is your worst habit?

Indirect question: May I ask you what your worst habit is?

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

May I ask you what your worst habit is?

 INDIRECT QUESTIONS
Examples (III)

Direct question: does he like partying?

Indirect question: may I ask you if he likes partying?

Introductory sentence + wh-/if + positive/negative sentence

May I ask you if/whether he likes partying?

 INDIRECT QUESTIONS
Most common phrases

Do you know … ?
Can/Could you tell me … ?
Can I ask . . .?
May I ask you . . .?
Do you happen to know ...?
I wonder / was wondering if you could tell me…
I wonder if you would mind telling me. . .
Would you mind telling me . . .?
I’d be interested to know …
I'd like to know ...