Indirect questions are when we use a question as a noun form in a sentence. This is called a noun clause.
- Do you know my age? (my age = noun)
- Do you know how old I am? (how old I am = noun clause)
- Could you tell me your birthday? (your birthday = noun)
- Could you tell me when you were born? (when you were born = noun clause)
- Do you know the store's location? (the store's location = noun)
- Do you know where the store is? (where the store is = noun clause)
When we use noun clauses as indirect questions, this seems softer or more polite than directly asking for information.
- Where is he? (DIRECT)
- Could you tell me where he is? (INDIRECT)
- Is it nice outside? (DIRECT)
- Do you know if it is nice outside? (INDIRECT)
- Who is she? (DIRECT)
- Do you happen to know who she is? (INDIRECT)
When we use indirect questions, we use the same word order as the positive. There is no inversion in indirect questions.
- Sean lives in Los Angeles. (positive)
- Do you know where Sean lives?
- It is 11:00am. (positive)
- Do you know what time it is?
- She went to the park. (positive)
- Do you know where she went?
- The weather will be bad tomorrow. (positive)
- Do you know how the weather will be tomorrow?
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