Direct and Indirect Questions

Direct and indirect questions can be both questions and statement.

It is a pure question (within interrogative sentence) and it is a statement (within declarative sentence).

Direct & Indirect Question

What is declarative sentence? 

It is a statement providing information or giving point of view. 

Moreover, indirect question can be within an imperative sentence.

What is imperative sentence? 

It is a sentence giving a command, order, direction, instruction or request.

We will look at the example below.

Example of Indirect questions in (statement).

1. She needs to know where you are going.

2. Jack does not know why he is sick.

3. Peter is asking who John is.

Explanation:

Examples number 1, 2, and 3 are statements. Those are indirectly stated, so we don't put a question mark at the end of the sentence because it is not a question. Indeed, it is only statement. We invert the subject and verb. (where you are going) not (where are you going).

Example of Indirect questions (pure questions)

1. Where is the nearest ATM?       

    Could you tell me where the nearest ATM is?

2. How often do you play tennis? 

    Would you tell me how often you play tennis?

3. Where can I catch the bus?           

    Do you know where i can catch the bus?

Explanation

The examples number 1, 2 and 3 show that they are completely interrogative sentences.

- Could you tell me?

- Would you tell me?

- Do you know?

If so, we put questions mark at the end of the sentence.

The expression “Could you tell me, would you tell me, do you know” used to show politeness and formal utterances. In this case we do not invert the subject and verb. (Do you know where i can catch the bus?)   not (Do you know where can i catch the bus?)

Example of Indirect  (Imperative Sentence)

1. Open your book!                  - The teacher asks me to open my book.

2. Please close the window.     - My father tells me to close the window.

Explanation.

Because the two sentences above are imperative, so we can apply the formula as follows:

Structure: reporting verb (tell, ask, etc) + noun/pronoun + to infinitive.

Indirect questions with if and whether 

Indirect question can be formed with if and whether. For examples:

1) Is this food free?

    Do you know if this food is free? 

2) Is the meeting at 9 a.m.?

    Can you tell me if the meeting at 9 a.m.?

3) Has your father phoned you yet?

    Could you tell me whether your father has called you yet?

Moreover, we can put or not when we use if and whether: Look at the examples below:

 Do you know if the food is free or not?

Can you tell me whether the meeting is at 9 a.m or not?

Could you tell me whether or not your father has phoned you yet?

When should we use indirect questions?

There are some situations you might use indirect questions, here are it examples:

1) When we ask for information from stranger or someone we don't know before. For example, when you are on the street.

2) When you are asking about time schedule, for example when you are in train station, bus station, airport.

3) When you request someone to help you.

4) When you want to make a request.