INDIRECT QUESTIONS WH-QUESTIONS

1. Look at these pictures and read the text in bubbles.

They are
under the
table,
darling.

They are
under the
table,
darling.
Do you
know where
my shoes
are, mum?

Where are
my shoes,
mum?

Oh, Peter!
What time
does the film
start?

Its strange.
Nobodys
here...

Whats the
matter with
you, John?
Did you eat
too much
ice-cream?

Oh my God!
I wonder why
I accepted Peters
invitation.
Excuse me.
Can you tell
me what time
the film

starts?

I have
a horrible
stomachache.

Can you remember

how much ice-cream
you ate?

Autorem materilu a vech jeho st, nen-li uvedeno jinak, je Elika Houzimov.
Dostupn z Metodickho portlu www.rvp.cz, ISSN: 18024785, financovanho z ESF a sttnho rozpotu R
Provozovno Vzkumnm stavem pedagogickm v Praze.

2. Are there any questions in the bubbles? (exercise 1) What similarities can you find? Compare the
questions on the left with the questions on the right. Focus on the word order. Underline them.

When do we use a direct question and when do we use an indirect one? Look at the pictures in the
exercise 1 again and try to guess.

Comment on these structures.

Where do you live? I wonder where you live.
When did you get up? Can you tell me when you got up?
How many tickets will you buy? I wonder how many tickets you will buy.
3. EXERCISES:
A.

Tick the correct answer.

1 I have no idea how much __________.

does it cost
it cost
it costs
2 Can you tell me_________________?
where he is
where is he
3 I wonder where __________________.
he is
is he
4 I am wondering how old ____ .
are you.
you are.

Autorem materilu a vech jeho st, nen-li uvedeno jinak, je Elika Houzimov.
Dostupn z Metodickho portlu www.rvp.cz, ISSN: 18024785, financovanho z ESF a sttnho rozpotu R
Provozovno Vzkumnm stavem pedagogickm v Praze.

B.

Transform these sentences. Pay attention to the correct word order.

Where is the closest cinema?

Can you tell me .................................................................
Why are you still in your pyjamas?
I wonder ..............................................................................
Where does your father come from?
I have no idea .....................................................................
Why did you sell your computer?
May I ask ............................................................................
How much milk did you buy?
Can you tell me ..................................................................
Why did you do that?
Can you explain .................................................................
When will your mum be back?
I just want to know ...........................................................
How many hot-dogs have you had?
I wonder .............................................................................
C.

Finish the sentences. Use the words given.

I dont know ..................................................................................................................

MANY

HOW

HE

SISTERS

HAS

Can you tell me ..............................................................................................................

YOU

HOW

SWIMMING

GO

OFTEN

I have no idea ...............................................................................................................

THEY

WHY

BACK

CAME

EARLY

SO

May I ask you ...............................................................................................................

FOR

YOU

WAITING

ARE

WHAT

Autorem materilu a vech jeho st, nen-li uvedeno jinak, je Elika Houzimov.
Dostupn z Metodickho portlu www.rvp.cz, ISSN: 18024785, financovanho z ESF a sttnho rozpotu R
Provozovno Vzkumnm stavem pedagogickm v Praze.

D.

Work in pairs. Look at the map. One of you will ask an indirect question. For

example: Can you tell me where...?

Could you explain where...? I dont know where... The other one will explain the way.
Change your roles.

PUB

GROCERY

RESTAURANT

HOSPITAL
SCHOOL

CINEMA

PARK

BOOKSTORE

CHEMISTRY

SHOP

TOYS

SWIMMING
POOL

ZOO

LIBRARY

Autorem materilu a vech jeho st, nen-li uvedeno jinak, je Elika Houzimov.
Dostupn z Metodickho portlu www.rvp.cz, ISSN: 18024785, financovanho z ESF a sttnho rozpotu R
Provozovno Vzkumnm stavem pedagogickm v Praze.