Indirect Questions

First Day on the Job

11

Focus on Grammar 4Part X, Unit 28By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2005. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

I think he did okay, but he sure asked a lot of questions.

I think he did okay, but he sure asked a lot of questions.

Well…Well…How did the new employee do on

his first day?

How did the new employee do on

his first day?

Oh? What kinds of questions did he

ask you?

Oh? What kinds of questions did he

ask you?

Too Many QuestionsToo Many Questions

He asked me if he could get a bigger office.

He asked me if he could get a bigger office. He also asked me why the previous person had

left.

He also asked me why the previous person had

left.

He asked me who fixed the computers.He asked me who

fixed the computers.

“Who fixes the computers?”“Can I get a bigger office?”

“Why did the

previous person leave?”

Indirect QuestionsIndirect Questions

The new guy asked whether the boss liked

practical jokes.

The new guy asked whether the boss liked

practical jokes.

The new guy asked if we had any more chocolate

donuts.

The new guy asked if we had any more chocolate

donuts.

Indirect Yes / No Questions 1Indirect Yes / No Questions 1

Use if or whether in indirect yes/no questions.

“Do you have any more chocolate donuts?”“Does the boss like

practical jokes?”

Indirect Yes / No Questions 2Indirect Yes / No Questions 2

Whether is more formal than if. We often use whether or not to report yes/no questions.

The new guy asked whether or not he could take a

break.

The new guy asked whether or not he could take a

break.“Can I take a

break?”

Practice 1Practice 1

1. “Does the company provide a car?” They asked…

2. “Can I have a company credit card?” She asked…

3. “Did he order a new computer?” I asked…

Change the direct questions into indirect questions. Use if, whether, or whether or not.

They asked if the company provided a car.

She asked whether she could get a company credit card.

I asked whether or not he had ordered a new computer.

“Will I get a raise?” He asked…

Example:

He asked if he would get a raise.

He asked whether he would get a raise.

He asked whether or not he would get a raise.

The new guy asked when the next office party was.The new guy asked when the next office party was.He also asked how many

copies he could make.He also asked how many

copies he could make. “How many copies can I make?”

Wh- Questions 1Wh- Questions 1

Use question words in indirect wh- questions.

“When is the next office party?”

Word Order 1Word Order 1

Use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order, for indirect yes/no questions.

“Can you turn off the fax machine?”

He asked me if I could turn off the fax machine.He asked me if I could

turn off the fax machine.

Word Order 2Word Order 2

Use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order, for indirect wh- questions about the predicate (usually the last part of the sentence).

“Why do the meetings last so long?”

He asked why the meetings lasted so

long.

He asked why the meetings lasted so

long.

Word Order 3Word Order 3

Use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order, for indirect wh- questions about the subject (usually the first part of the sentence).

“Who made the coffee?”

He asked who made the coffee.

He asked who made the coffee.

SubjectSubject

Be Careful!Be Careful!

He asked whatwas the dress code.

He asked whatwas the dress code.

If a direct question about the subject has the form question word + be + noun, then the indirect question has the form question word + noun + be.

“What is the dress code?”

the dress code was.

He asked me do I have any new video games.He asked me do I have any new video games.any new video games.

if I had

AuxiliariesAuxiliaries

In indirect questions, do not use the auxiliary do, does, or did.

“Do you have any new video games?”

He asked me if I could wake him up in an hourHe asked me if I could

wake him up in an hour?

PunctuationPunctuation

In indirect questions, do not end with a question mark (end with a period).

“Could you wake me up in an hour?”

.

?

Practice 2Practice 2

1. “What’s the name of the company?” They asked…

2. “How many people work for the company?” We asked…

3. “How long has the boss worked in the office?” I asked…

Change the direct questions into indirect questions.

They asked what the name of the company was.

We asked how many people worked for the company.

I asked how long the boss had worked in the office.

“Where is my office?” She asked…

Example:

She asked where her office was.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.

ReferencesReferences