Indirect Questions with If, Whether and Question Words.

Indirect questions put a question inside a longer sentence. You can use them to ask politely or report what someone asks. Learn to choose if, whether or a question word, and put the words in the right order.

1.When to use indirect questions

A direct question asks for information immediately. An indirect question introduces it with another phrase.

Direct question	Indirect question
Where is the station?	Could you tell me where the station is?
Does this bus stop here?	Do you know if this bus stops here?
What does Leo want?	She wants to know what Leo wants.

Useful beginnings include:

• Could you tell me …? — a polite request for information
• Do you know …? — asking whether someone has information
• I wonder … — expressing something you would like to know
• She wants to know … — reporting someone’s question

2.Use statement word order

Inside an indirect question, use subject + verb, as in a statement. Do not put the verb or auxiliary before the subject.

Direct question	Indirect question	Subject + verb
Where is Maya?	Do you know where Maya is?	Maya + is
When can we leave?	Could you tell me when we can leave?	we + can leave
Why has he left?	Do you know why he has left?	he + has left

With ordinary present and past simple questions, remove the question auxiliary do, does or did. Give the main verb the correct form instead.

3.Use if or whether for yes/no questions

If the direct question has a yes/no answer, introduce the indirect question with if or whether. Both are common in these sentences; whether can sound slightly more formal.

Here, if introduces a question, not a condition.

Use whether especially when you present two alternatives:

• Do you know whether the meeting is on Monday or Tuesday?
• Please tell me whether you can come or not.

You can also put or not immediately after whether:

• Please tell me whether or not you can come.

4.Keep the question word

If the direct question begins with who, what, where, when, why, which or how, keep that word. Do not add if or whether.

When who or what is the subject, the word order usually stays the same:

• Who called? → Do you know who called?
• What happened? → Could you tell me what happened?

Compare Who called? with Who did you call? In the second question, you is the subject:

• Who did you call? → Please tell me who you called.

5.Check punctuation and context

Use a question mark if the whole sentence asks a question. Use a full stop if the whole sentence is a statement or an instruction.

Sentence type	Example
Question	Could you tell me when the lesson starts?
Statement	I wonder when the lesson starts.
Instruction	Please tell me when the lesson starts.

When reporting someone’s question, change pronouns if necessary so they refer to the right person.

Indirect word order does not itself require a tense change: Where does she work? becomes Do you know where she works? When reporting a question with a past verb such as asked, tense changes are also common: She asked where I lived.

6.A quick checklist

1. For a yes/no question, choose if or whether.
2. For a question with a question word, keep that word.
3. Use subject + verb inside the indirect question.
4. Remove question auxiliaries do, does and did, and check the main verb.
5. Check pronouns and decide whether the whole sentence needs a question mark.

Where is it? → Could you tell me where it is?

Is it ready? → Do you know if it is ready?