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Indirect Questions First Day on the Job 11 Focus on Grammar 4 Part X, Unit 28 By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells Copyright © 2005. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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.
Well…How did the new employee do on
his first day?
Oh? What kinds of questions did he
ask you?
Too Many Questions
He asked me if he could get a bigger office. He also asked me why the previous person had
left.He asked me who
fixed the computers.
“Who fixes the computers?”“Can I get a bigger office?”
“Why did the
previous person leave?”
Indirect Questions
The new guy asked whether the boss liked
practical jokes.
The new guy asked if we had any more chocolate
donuts.
Indirect 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 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. “Can I take a break?”
Practice 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.He also asked how many
copies he could make. “How many copies can I make?”
Wh- Questions 1
Use question words in indirect wh- questions.
“When is the next office party?”
Word 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.
Word Order 2Use 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.
Word Order 3Use 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.
Subject
Be Careful!
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.any new video games.
if I had
Auxiliaries
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 hour?
Punctuation
In indirect questions, do not end with a question mark (end with a period).
“Could you wake me up in an hour?”
.
?
Practice 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.
References
