[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"grammar-page-en-indirect-questions-with-if-whether-and-question-words":3,"grammar-exercises-by-page-01a0e1ab-d5d8-7484-8fca-82bc3d0644d7":25,"exercise-list-path-en-none":62},{"id":4,"title":5,"slug":6,"seoDescription":7,"content":8,"language":9,"level":10,"displayOrder":11,"grammarTopics":12,"createdAt":19,"updatedAt":20,"vocabularyLists":21,"primaryTopicHub":22,"readyImages":24},"01a0e1ab-d5d8-7484-8fca-82bc3d0644d7","Indirect Questions with If, Whether and Question Words","indirect-questions-with-if-whether-and-question-words","Learn to form indirect questions with if, whether and question words, use statement word order, and choose punctuation for polite and reported questions.","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.\n\n## 1. When to use indirect questions\n\nA direct question asks for information immediately. An indirect question introduces it with another phrase.\n\n| Direct question | Indirect question |\n| --- | --- |\n| Where is the station? | Could you tell me **where the station is**? |\n| Does this bus stop here? | Do you know **if this bus stops here**? |\n| What does Leo want? | She wants to know **what Leo wants**. |\n\nUseful beginnings include:\n\n- **Could you tell me …?** — a polite request for information\n- **Do you know …?** — asking whether someone has information\n- **I wonder …** — expressing something you would like to know\n- **She wants to know …** — reporting someone’s question\n\n## 2. Use statement word order\n\nInside an indirect question, use **subject + verb**, as in a statement. Do not put the verb or auxiliary before the subject.\n\n| Direct question | Indirect question | Subject + verb |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Where is Maya? | Do you know **where Maya is**? | Maya + is |\n| When can we leave? | Could you tell me **when we can leave**? | we + can leave |\n| Why has he left? | Do you know **why he has left**? | he + has left |\n\nWith ordinary present and past simple questions, remove the question auxiliary **do**, **does** or **did**. Give the main verb the correct form instead.\n\n:::example\nWhere **does she work**? → Do you know where **she works**?\n\nWhen **did they arrive**? → Could you tell me when **they arrived**?\n\nWhat **do you need**? → Please tell me what **you need**.\n:::\n\n:::warning\nThe opening phrase can have question word order, but the question inside it cannot.\n\n✓ **Do you know** where **he lives**?\n\n✗ Do you know where does he live?\n:::\n\n## 3. Use if or whether for yes\u002Fno questions\n\nIf the direct question has a yes\u002Fno answer, introduce the indirect question with **if** or **whether**. Both are common in these sentences; **whether** can sound slightly more formal.\n\n:::example\nIs the shop open? → Do you know **if the shop is open**?\n\nHave they booked a room? → Could you tell me **whether they have booked a room**?\n\nDid Sara call? → I wonder **if Sara called**.\n:::\n\nHere, **if** introduces a question, not a condition.\n\nUse **whether** especially when you present two alternatives:\n\n- Do you know **whether the meeting is on Monday or Tuesday**?\n- Please tell me **whether you can come or not**.\n\nYou can also put **or not** immediately after **whether**:\n\n- Please tell me **whether or not you can come**.\n\n:::note\n**If … or not** is also possible: “Do you know **if he is coming or not**?” But do not put **or not** immediately after **if**: “if or not he is coming” is incorrect.\n:::\n\n## 4. Keep the question word\n\nIf the direct question begins with **who**, **what**, **where**, **when**, **why**, **which** or **how**, keep that word. Do not add **if** or **whether**.\n\n:::example\nWhy is she upset? → Do you know **why she is upset**?\n\nHow much does it cost? → Could you tell me **how much it costs**?\n\nWhich train should I take? → Can you tell me **which train I should take**?\n:::\n\nWhen **who** or **what** is the subject, the word order usually stays the same:\n\n- Who called? → Do you know **who called**?\n- What happened? → Could you tell me **what happened**?\n\nCompare **Who called?** with **Who did you call?** In the second question, **you** is the subject:\n\n- Who did you call? → Please tell me **who you called**.\n\n## 5. Check punctuation and context\n\nUse a question mark if the **whole sentence asks a question**. Use a full stop if the whole sentence is a statement or an instruction.\n\n| Sentence type | Example |\n| --- | --- |\n| Question | Could you tell me **when the lesson starts**? |\n| Statement | I wonder **when the lesson starts**. |\n| Instruction | Please tell me **when the lesson starts**. |\n\nWhen reporting someone’s question, change pronouns if necessary so they refer to the right person.\n\n:::example\nAnna asks me, “Where do **you** live?”\n\nAnna wants to know where **I** live.\n:::\n\nIndirect 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**.\n\n## 6. A quick checklist\n\n1. For a yes\u002Fno question, choose **if** or **whether**.\n2. For a question with a question word, keep that word.\n3. Use **subject + verb** inside the indirect question.\n4. Remove question auxiliaries **do**, **does** and **did**, and check the main verb.\n5. Check pronouns and decide whether the whole sentence needs a question mark.\n\n**Where is it?** → Could you tell me **where it is**?\n\n**Is it ready?** → Do you know **if it is ready**?","en","B1",74.51,[13],{"id":14,"name":15,"level":10,"language":9,"isCompleted":16,"completionPercentage":17,"totalExercises":18,"completedExercises":17},"01a03036-2773-7f58-a595-c9e015bc6eb1","Questions in conversation",false,0,17,"2026-09-27T07:02:10+00:00","2026-10-14T10:40:29+00:00",[],{"name":15,"slug":23,"language":9},"interactive-questions-and-follow-up-b1",[],[26,37,46,55],{"@id":27,"@type":28,"id":29,"grammarPage":30,"title":31,"instructions":32,"displayOrder":17,"type":33,"questionCount":34,"blankCount":35,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":36},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-db30-7d71-be8a-1df2cfacead0","GrammarExercise","01a0e1ab-db30-7d71-be8a-1df2cfacead0","\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_pages\u002F01a0e1ab-d5d8-7484-8fca-82bc3d0644d7","Indirect Questions with If, Whether and Question Words — Forms in Context","Choose the option that completes each sentence in context.","word_select",15,18,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_64854a38-c37c-47b3-8dc5-355c7959024a_hero.webp?v=1790492531",{"@id":38,"@type":28,"id":39,"grammarPage":30,"title":40,"instructions":41,"displayOrder":42,"type":43,"questionCount":44,"blankCount":44,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":45},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-db50-7985-baa1-aa269b3ea708","01a0e1ab-db50-7985-baa1-aa269b3ea708","Indirect Questions with If, Whether and Question Words — Build the Sentences","Arrange the word tiles to build an indirect question or statement. Leave out the extra word.",1,"sentence_builder",12,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_fe683509-e41e-4934-9bc0-8b24fe1bc333_hero.webp?v=1790492531",{"@id":47,"@type":28,"id":48,"grammarPage":30,"title":49,"instructions":50,"displayOrder":51,"type":52,"questionCount":53,"blankCount":17,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":54},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-db64-7035-b8a1-9ced7e385871","01a0e1ab-db64-7035-b8a1-9ced7e385871","Indirect Questions — Sort the Building Blocks","Tap each tile, then tap its column. Place every tile before checking your answers.",2,"word_sort",4,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_49d08665-e029-48b2-8be5-f86e4024cea7_hero.webp?v=1790492531",{"@id":56,"@type":28,"id":57,"grammarPage":30,"title":58,"instructions":59,"displayOrder":60,"type":52,"questionCount":53,"blankCount":17,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":61},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-db6a-79b0-aff5-8cea3c9796a5","01a0e1ab-db6a-79b0-aff5-8cea3c9796a5","Indirect Questions — Check Messages and Reports","Tap each tile, then tap the matching column. Sort all the tiles using the context in each prompt.",3,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_61217444-fbfa-4288-a73b-ff678d51c8a5_hero.webp?v=1790492531",null]