Indirect (embedded) questions are more polite and often used in service situations. After phrases such as “Could you tell me…”, “Do you know…”, “I wonder…” the question uses statement word order – subject before verb – and no do / does / did.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Could you tell me + where/what/when + subject + verb | Could you tell me where the bank is? |
| Do you know + wh- + subject + verb | Do you know what time it starts? |
| yes/no: if / whether + subject + verb | I wonder if she is at home. |
When to use it
- Polite requests for information: Could you tell me where the post office is?
- With “know, wonder, ask, tell, remember”: I don't know why she left.
- For yes/no questions use if or whether: Do you know if he is coming?
- No question mark when the whole sentence is a statement: I wonder what he wants.
Examples
- Could you tell me where the station is?
- Do you know what time the shop opens?
- I wonder why he left so early.
- Can you tell me if this bus goes to the centre?
- I don't know how much it costs.
- Do you remember who called?
Common mistakes
- Question order: Could you tell me where is the bank? → where the bank is.
- Using do/does: Do you know what time does it start? → what time it starts.
- Missing if/whether: I don't know he is coming → I don't know if he is coming.