INDIRECT QUESTIONS / EMBEDDED QUESTIONS

Let’s look at direct questions first.

Information questions:
INFORMATIO AUXILIARY SUBJECT VERB COMPLEMENT
N QUESTION (OR VERB
WORD (IQW) TO BE)
Who

?
What do
When does
Where did
Why
How am
How many__ is
How much__
How long
are
was --
… were

Who do you live with?

What does he do?
When did you arrive?
How many books did you read?
How long did it take you?

Where are you?

Why is he here?
How long were you busy?
Where are you going?

Yes/No Questions:
AUXILIARY SUBJECT VERB COMPLEMENT
(OR VERB
TO BE)

?
do
does
did

am
is
are
was --
were

Do you live here?

Does she work at the bank?
Did they have dinner?

Is he here?
Are you happy?
Was it good?
Were they here?
Are you coming?
____________________________________________________________________
I know Sarah.

Subject Verb Direct object

I know Sarah.

What is the Direct Object?

A DIRECT OBJECT completes the meaning of the verb. It receives the action of the verb.
How do you find the DIRECT OBJECT?
ASK A QUESTION: Who /What + do/did + subject + verb?

Examples:
I bought a book.
Question: what did I buy?
Answer: a book
“a book” is the direct object
The direct object gives the verb the complete meaning. I can’t just say “I bought”
That is not a complete sentence.
“I bought it.” “IT” is the direct object

In a sentence, the word order is always SUBJECT + VERB (AUX)

In a question, the word order is always VERB (AUX) + SUBJECT

I KNOW SARAH.

?
Question: Who is Sarah? (verb + subj)

Subject Verb Direct object

I know Sarah.
something.
her.
(a question)

who Sarah is.

IQW + subject + verb

Because it is not a question!

Direct question:

Where is the post office?

Polite question:

Could you please help me?

Could you please tell me something?

Direct object
Could you please tell me something ?
where the post office is
IQW + subject + verb

Yes/no questions:

Direct question: is the post office open now?

Indirect question:
Direct object
Could you please tell me something ?
if / whether the post office is open now
subject + verb

Beginning of sentence Direct object

Could you tell me
Do you know IQW + subject + verb
I don’t remember
I forgot
I’d like to know if / whether + subject + verb
I wonder

Direct questions Indirect questions

Where did you go? Could you tell me where you went?
What will you do? Do you know what you will do?
What are you baking? I don’t remember what you are baking.
Did you finish? I forgot if you finished / whether you finished.
Will you be there? I’d like to know if you’ll be there / whether you’ll be
there.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

A. Change the sentences into direct questions.

B. Change the direct questions into indirect questions.

1. She lives in Santa Cruz.

Direct:
Indirect: I don’t remember

2. Wilster won the cup!

Direct:
Indirect: Do you know

Direct:
Indirect: Do you know

3. They paid him his salary. (Y/N)

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

4. He visited Paris last year. (Y/N)

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

5. They go abroad every year.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

6. They founded the company in 2005.

Direct:
Indirect: I don’t remember

7. He is waiting for the bus. (Y/N)

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

8. The police arrested Paul for stealing.

Direct:
Indirect: I forgot

9. They sold their old blue car. (Y/N)

Direct:
Indirect: I don’t know

10. Our favorite TV show starts at 8:00.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me
11. You can play the guitar. (Y/N)
Direct:
Indirect: I don’t remember

12. Our class started at 10:30.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

13. He bought 5 apples.

Direct:
Indirect: I don’t know

14. She is sad because …

Direct:
Indirect: I don’t know

15. The theater is on the corner.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

16. A pizza costs $20.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

17. They are studying.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

18. The train leaves from platform 9 ¾.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

19. The manager often goes on business trips. (Y/N)

Direct:
Indirect: I don’t know

20. It is 3:30.
Direct:
Indirect: I don’t know

21. Her favorite TV show is Breaking Bad.

Direct:
Indirect: Could you tell me

22. The meeting is on Monday.

Direct:
Indirect: I forgot