Indirect Questions: The Polite Grammar Behind "Could You Tell Me..."
Master indirect questions — polite forms, statement word order, and common errors for exams and formal writing.
Direct questions can sound blunt. Indirect questions are more polite:
Direct: Where is the station?
Indirect: Could you tell me where the station is?
Direct: What time does the bank open?
Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?
The grammar changes: indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb), not question order.
Rule box: After polite introductions (Could you tell me, Do you know, I wonder, Can you explain), use statement word order: subject + verb. Do not use question inversion.
Could you tell me where the station is? (not “where is the station”)
Do you know what time it is?
I wonder why she left.
Can you explain how this works?
Do you remember when we met?
For yes/no questions, use if or whether:
Could you tell me if the train is on time?
Do you know whether she is coming?
I wonder if this is correct.
Can you confirm whether the meeting is at 3?
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | Could you tell me where it is? |
| What does it cost? | Do you know what it costs? |
| When will they arrive? | I wonder when they will arrive. |
| Is this correct? | Can you tell me if this is correct? |
| How does it work? | Could you explain how it works? |
Indirect questions end with a period, not a question mark:
❌ Could you tell me where the station is**?**
✅ Could you tell me where the station is**.**
❌ I wonder what he wants**?**
✅ I wonder what he wants**.**
Exception: If the main clause is a question, use a question mark:
Can you tell me where the station is**?** (the main clause “Can you tell me” is a question)
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Could you tell me where is the station? | where the station is | Statement order. |
| Do you know what does he want? | what he wants | Statement order. |
| I wonder when will they arrive. | when they will arrive | Statement order. |
| Can you explain why is it wrong? | why it is wrong | Statement order. |
Choose the correct option.
- Could you tell me where ___? (is the station / the station is)
- Do you know what ___? (does he want / he wants)
- I wonder when ___. (will they arrive / they will arrive)
- Error spotting: Could you tell me where is the bank?
- Error spotting: Do you know what does she need?
- Fill in the blank: Can you tell me if ___? (is she coming / she is coming)
- Fill in the blank: I wonder ___. (why did he leave / why he left)
- Rewrite politely: What time does the store close?
- Choose: Could you tell me where the hotel is? (period / question mark)
- Choose: I wonder what he wants. (period / question mark)
- the station is — statement order.
- he wants — statement order.
- they will arrive — statement order.
- where the bank is — statement order.
- what she needs — statement order.
- she is coming — statement order.
- why he left — statement order.
- Could you tell me what time the store closes?
- question mark — main clause is a question.
- period — indirect question, statement form.
Rule: Indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb) after polite introducers. Use if/whether for yes/no questions. End with a period (unless the main clause is a question).
Memory trick: “Indirect = no inversion. Subject before verb. Polite and clear.”
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