DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS

Direct and Indirect questions.

What Are Direct Questions?

Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members, and people who we know well.

Example of a direct question: “Where’s the bathroom?”

What Are Indirect Questions?

Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different.

Example of an indirect question: “Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

Phrases For Indirect Questions

Could you tell me…

¿PODRÍA DECIRME...?

DO YOU KNOW...

¿SABRÁ...?

I WAS WONDERING...

ME PREGUNTABA...

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA...

TIENE USTED ALGUNA IDEA ...

I´D LIKE TO KNOW...

Could you tell me… Do you know… I was wondering… Do you have any idea… I’d like to know… Would it be possible… Is there any chance…

ME GUSTARÍA SABER...

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE...

¿SERÍA POSIBLE...?

Direct And Indirect Questions In English: Examples

Direct: Where is Market Street? Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is? En las preguntas indirectas con is/are, el verbo (is) va después del sujeto (Market Street).

Direct And Indirect Questions In English: Examples

Direct: What time does the bank open? Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens? En las preguntas indirectas, no utilizamos los verbos auxiliares do/does/did. Además, puedes ver que el verbo es "OPEN" en la pregunta directa, y "OPENS" en la indirecta.

Direct And Indirect Questions In English: Examples

Direct: Why did you move to Europe? Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe. De nuevo, no hay verbo auxiliar did en la pregunta indirecta. De hecho, esta pregunta indirecta ni siquiera es una pregunta, sino más bien una afirmación que invita a la otra persona a dar más información.