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Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)

Updated 27 Oct 2026 5 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: indirect questions — a traveller politely asking a stranger for directions at a station
Short answer

An indirect question starts with a phrase like 'Can you tell me...' or 'Do you know...' and then uses statement word order, not question inversion: 'Can you tell me where the station is?', not 'where is the station'.

On this page11 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01The rule
  2. 02Direct vs indirect
  3. 03Punctuation: ? or .
  4. 04Example sentences
  5. 05Common mistakes
  6. 06A short conversation
  7. 07Usage notes
  8. 08Compared with…
  9. 09Practice
  10. 10Quiz
  11. 11Recap cheat-sheet

Level: B1. Indirect questions make a request sound more polite and less abrupt. Instead of Where is the station? you say Could you tell me where the station is? The trick is one change learners often miss: after the opening phrase, the words go back to statement order.

The rule

A direct question is the normal question form, with the verb or auxiliary before the subject: Where is the station? What does it mean? This is the inversion that makes it a question.

An indirect question wraps that question inside a polite introductory phrase — Can you tell me…, Do you know…, I wonder…, Would you mind telling me… — and then the question part switches to statement word order: subject first, then verb, with no inversion.

  • Direct: Where is the station?
  • Indirect: Can you tell me where the station is?

Two things change after the introductory phrase:

  1. No inversion. The subject comes before the verb: where the station is, not where is the station.
  2. No do / does / did. The auxiliary disappears and the main verb carries the tense and person: Do you know what it means? (not what does it mean); Can you tell me where she went? (not where did she go).

For a yes/no question (one with no question word) you join the two parts with if or whether: Is the shop open? → Do you know if the shop is open?

Direct vs indirect

Direct question Introductory phrase Indirect question
Where is the bank? Could you tell me… Could you tell me where the bank is?
What does this word mean? Do you know… Do you know what this word means?
When did they leave? Can you tell me… Can you tell me when they left?
How much is it? I’d like to know… I’d like to know how much it is.
Is this seat free? Do you know… Do you know if this seat is free?
Does the bus stop here? I wonder… I wonder whether the bus stops here.

Punctuation: ? or .

Whether the whole sentence is a question depends on the opening phrase:

  • If the phrase is a question (Can you tell me…?, Do you know…?, Would you mind telling me…?), keep the question mark.
  • If the phrase is a statement (I wonder…, I’d like to know…, I’m not sure…), end with a full stop.

So: Do you know where he lives? but I wonder where he lives.

Example sentences

  1. Can you tell me where the station is?
    Statement order: the station is (not is the station).
  2. Do you know what time it is?
    what time it is, not what time is it.
  3. Could you tell me how much this costs?
    how much this costs, no 'does'.
  4. Do you know what this word means?
    what this word means, not what does it mean.
  5. I wonder where they went on holiday.
    where they went, not where did they go. Full stop.
  6. Can you tell me when the film starts?
    when the film starts, no 'does'.
  7. Do you know why she left early?
    why she left, not why did she leave.
  8. I'd like to know how this machine works.
    how this machine works. Statement ends with a full stop.
  9. Could you tell me where I can buy a ticket?
    where I can buy, not where can I buy.
  10. Do you know who that man is?
    who that man is, not who is that man.
  11. Do you know if the shop is open?
    Yes/no question joined with 'if'.
  12. I wonder whether it will rain tomorrow.
    Yes/no question joined with 'whether'.
  13. Can you tell me if this train goes to York?
    'if' + statement order: this train goes.
  14. Do you know whether they are coming?
    whether + statement order.
  15. Would you mind telling me how old you are?
    how old you are, not how old are you.
  16. I'm not sure what we should do next.
    Indirect question inside a statement.
  17. Do you have any idea where my keys are?
    where my keys are, not where are my keys.
  18. Could you tell me whether the museum is free?
    whether + statement order, question mark kept.
  19. I wonder why the bus is so late today.
    why the bus is late, full stop.
  20. Can you remember what her name was?
    what her name was, not what was her name.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ Can you tell me where is the station? → ✅ Can you tell me where the station is? No inversion after the phrase; subject before verb.
  • ❌ Do you know what does this word mean? → ✅ Do you know what this word means? Drop does; the main verb takes the ending.
  • ❌ Could you tell me when did they leave? → ✅ Could you tell me when they left? No did; the main verb shows the past.
  • ❌ I wonder is the shop open. → ✅ I wonder if the shop is open. A yes/no question needs if or whether.
  • ❌ Do you know where he lives? with the answer written where does he live — ✅ keep where he lives. The pronoun comes before the verb.
  • ❌ Do you know what time is it. → ✅ Do you know what time it is? Statement order, and a question phrase keeps the question mark.

A short conversation

A: Excuse me, could you tell me where the ticket office is? B: It’s just over there. Do you know which train you need? A: Not yet. Do you know if the next one goes to Oxford? B: I’m not sure what time it leaves, sorry — the board will say.

Usage notes

  • Why indirect? It softens a question and sounds more polite, especially to strangers or in formal settings. Where’s the toilet? is fine among friends; Could you tell me where the toilet is? is gentler with a stranger.
  • if vs whether. Both work for yes/no questions. Whether is a little more formal and is the better choice before or not: I wonder whether or not to go. Avoid if … or not right next to each other.
  • Reported speech is close but not the same. When you report what someone asked, tenses often shift back: She asked where I lived. An indirect question you ask yourself keeps the present: Do you know where he lives?
  • Verb at the end feels normal. …where the station is, …how old you are, …what her name was. The verb sitting last is correct here, even though it looks unusual.

Compared with…

  • Reported questions report a question someone else asked, usually in the past, with backshifted tenses and no question mark: He asked where the station was. An indirect question is one you ask politely, now. See Reported Questions.
  • Question tags turn a statement into a quick check at the end (It’s cold, isn’t it?) — a different way to soften or confirm. See Question Tags.
  • To build the question words themselves (who, what, where, when, why, how), review Question Words.

Recap card for indirect questions showing introductory phrases plus statement word order and if/whether with examples

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Indirect questions practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct indirect question.
Show answer

Can you tell me where the bank is? — After the phrase, use statement order: where the bank is.

Hint: Two possible words for a yes/no question

Show answer

if — A yes/no indirect question uses 'if' or 'whether'.

3 Which sentence is correct?
Show answer

Do you know what this means? — Drop 'does' and keep the main verb with its ending: what this means.

4 Put the words in order to make a polite indirect question.

Show answer

Could you tell me where the station is — Introductory phrase + question word + statement order: where the station is.

5 Match each direct question to its indirect form.

  • What time is it?
  • Is it free?
  • When did they leave?
  • Where is he?
Show answer
  • What time is it? → Do you know what time it is?
  • Is it free? → Do you know if it is free?
  • When did they leave? → Can you tell me when they left?
  • Where is he? → I wonder where he is.

Each uses statement order after the phrase, with if for the yes/no one.

Hint: No 'did'; put the past on the main verb

Show answer

left — Drop 'did' and show the past on the verb: why she left.

Quiz

Check yourself

Indirect questions quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered
  1. 1Choose: 'Can you tell me where ___ ?'
    Show answer

    the museum is — Statement order after the phrase: the museum is.

  2. 2Choose: 'Do you know what this word ___ ?'
    Show answer

    means — Drop 'does'; the main verb takes the -s: means.

  3. 3Choose: 'Could you tell me when the train ___ ?'
    Show answer

    leaves — No auxiliary; the main verb carries the present: leaves.

  4. 4Which word joins a yes/no indirect question?
    Show answer

    if — Yes/no questions use 'if' (or 'whether').

  5. 5Choose: 'I wonder ___ it will rain.'
    Show answer

    whether — 'Whether' (or 'if') joins a yes/no indirect question.

  6. 6Which sentence is WRONG?
    Show answer

    Do you know where does he live? — Drop 'does' and use statement order: where he lives.

  7. 7Choose: 'Can you tell me how much ___ ?'
    Show answer

    it costs — Statement order, no 'does': how much it costs.

  8. 8Which indirect question is punctuated correctly?
    Show answer

    Do you know where he is? — A question phrase ('Do you know...') keeps the question mark.

  9. 9Choose: 'Could you tell me when they ___ ?'
    Show answer

    arrived — No 'did'; the main verb shows the past: arrived.

  10. Show answer

    if — A yes/no indirect question uses 'if' or 'whether'.

  11. 11Choose: 'Do you have any idea where ___ ?'
    Show answer

    my keys are — Statement order and plural agreement: where my keys are.

  12. 12Which sentence should end with a full stop, not a question mark?
    Show answer

    I'd like to know how it works — 'I'd like to know...' is a statement, so it ends with a full stop.

Recap cheat-sheet

Change Direct Indirect
no inversion Where is it? …where it is
no do/does/did What does it mean? …what it means
yes/no -> if/whether Is it open? …if it is open
punctuation — ? after a question phrase, . after a statement

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125 topics 125 ready now
A1 30 topics · 30 ready
  1. 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
  2. 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
  3. 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
  4. 04 Present Simple: Negatives and Questions (do/does)
  5. 05 Articles: a / an and When to Use Each
  6. 06 The Definite Article 'The': When to Use It
  7. 07 Zero Article: When to Use No Article
  8. 08 Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular Forms
  9. 09 This, That, These, Those (Demonstratives)
  10. 10 Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her
  11. 11 Possessive 's and s' (Showing Belonging)
  12. 12 There Is / There Are (Saying What Exists)
  13. 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
  14. 14 Can and Can't for Ability
  15. 15 Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing)
  16. 16 Imperatives: Giving Orders and Instructions
  17. 17 Adjectives: Position and Basic Use
  18. 18 Prepositions of Place: in, on, at
  19. 19 Prepositions of Time: in, on, at
  20. 20 Question Words: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
  21. 21 How Much vs How Many
  22. 22 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
  23. 23 Some and Any: Which One to Use
  24. 24 Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, them
  25. 25 Adverbs of Frequency and Their Position
  26. 26 Like, Love, Hate + -ing (Expressing Preferences)
  27. 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
  28. 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
  29. 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
  30. 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
  2. 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
  3. 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
  4. 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
  5. 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
  6. 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
  7. 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
  8. 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
  9. 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
  10. 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
  11. 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
  12. 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
  13. 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
  14. 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
  15. 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
  16. 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
  17. 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
  18. 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
  19. 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
  20. 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
  21. 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
  22. 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
  23. 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
  24. 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
  25. 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
  1. 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
  2. 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
  3. 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)
  4. 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
  5. 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
  6. 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)
  7. 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
  8. 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
  9. 64 Reported Questions
  10. 65 Reported Commands and Requests
  11. 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
  12. 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
  13. 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
  14. 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
  15. 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
  16. 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
  17. 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
  18. 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
  19. 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
  20. 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
  21. 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)
  22. 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
  23. 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
  24. 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
  25. 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...) You are here
  26. 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
  27. 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
  2. 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
  3. 85 Mixed Conditionals
  4. 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
  5. 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
  6. 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
  7. 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
  8. 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
  9. 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
  10. 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
  11. 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
  12. 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
  13. 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
  14. 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
  15. 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
  16. 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
  17. 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
  18. 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
  19. 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
  20. 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
  21. 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
  22. 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
  23. 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
  24. 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
  25. 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
  1. 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
  2. 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
  3. 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
  4. 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
  5. 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
  6. 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
  7. 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
  8. 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
  9. 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
  10. 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
  11. 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
  12. 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
  13. 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
  14. 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
  15. 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
  16. 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
  17. 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
  18. 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)