What Is A Direct And Indirect Question?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members, and people who we know well . You can form direct questions using the QUASM model that we learned last lesson. Example of a direct question: “Where’s the bathroom?” Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite.

What is the difference between a direct and indirect question?

The key difference between direct and indirect questions is that direct questions are informal and friendly , whereas indirect questions are polite and formal. ... Moreover, a direct question is not a statement, but an indirect question is always embedded inside another question or statement.

What are direct and indirect questions give examples?

Direct Questions Indirect Questions Can you help me move on Saturday? Is there any chance you could help me move on Saturday?

What are the examples of direct questions?

  • Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong person?
  • Do you fold your pizza when you eat it?
  • What would be the coolest animal to scale up to the size of a horse?
  • Who was your worst teacher?
  • Would you rather be a hobbit or an elf for a day?

How do you answer an indirect question?

To make an indirect ‘yes / no’ question, we use ‘if’ and the word order of a normal positive sentence . This is the same as for reported ‘yes / no’ questions. On the other hand, we don’t usually need to ‘backshift’ (change the tense of the verb) as we do with reported questions.

What is indirect question example?

Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different. Example of an indirect question: “Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

What are indirect commands?

Indirect commands are formed with que plus the subjunctive . Indirect commands are commonly used when referring to the third person (singular or plural). They are usually translated by “let,” “may,” or “have.”

What is an indirect question Latin?

Book Nav. 573. An indirect question is any sentence or clause which is introduced by an interrogative word (pronoun, adverb, etc.), and which is itself the subject or object of a verb, or depends on any expression implying uncertainty or doubt.

What is indirect question time?

(The embedded direct question is “What time is it?”. Notice that the indirect question has the word order “the time is” (i.e., subject + verb) not “is the time” (i.e., verb + subject). In other words, an indirect question has the same word order as a statement , not a question.) I’m asking where you are going.

What is a negative question?

A negative question is one that is worded in such a way as to require a “no” response for an affirmative answer and a “yes” response for a negative answer. In other words, negative questions switch the “yes/no” response order of regular, or positive, questions to a less intuitive “no/yes” order.

What are the 4 types of questions?

In English, there are four types of questions: general or yes/no questions, special questions using wh-words, choice questions, and disjunctive or tag/tail questions . Each of these different types of questions is used commonly in English, and to give the correct answer to each you’ll need to be able to be prepared.

What is indirect question in English?

A declarative sentence that reports a question and ends with a period rather than a question mark. Contrast with a direct question. In Standard English, there is no inversion of normal word order in indirect questions: e.g., “ I asked him if he was going home.

How do you write a direct question?

“A direct question,” says Thomas S. Kane, “is always marked by one or some combination of three signals : a rising intonation of the voice, an auxiliary verb inverted to a position before the subject, or an interrogative pronoun or adverb (who, what, why, when, how, and so on)” (The New Oxford Guide to Writing, 1988).

What is your name indirect question?

Indirect questions: Would you mind telling me what your name is? Could you please tell me what your name is?

What questions should you avoid?

  • Double-barreled questions- force respondents to make two decisions in one. ...
  • Double negative questions-for example: “Please tell me whether or not you agree or disagree with this statement. ...
  • Hypothetical questions- are typically too difficult for respondents since they require more scrutiny.

How do you teach indirect questions?

Teaching Tip:

There are three parts to Indirect Questions: The Introductory Clause – for reported speech, this is “She asked”, “He wondered”, and so on. For polite or formal questions, it’s polite expressions like “ Do you mind if I ask ” or “Could you tell me”, among others.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.