Hello and welcome to Six Minute Grandma with me, Katherine and Me, Rob.

Hello.

And today we're talking about indirect questions that's right.

In direct questions.

We'll tell you what they are, how to make them on when to use them.

And there'll be a quiz at the end of the show.

So listen carefully.

Let's start with a simple question.

Catherine.

What time is it?

It is 18 minutes past 11.

Rob goodness already on that question uses normal question.

Word order.

What time is it?

But there's another way to ask that question.

Let's listen to Mike.

Could you tell me what time it is?

Yes, it's still 18 minutes past 11.

Thank you, Mike.

This is a much more polite way of asking a question.

It's called on in direct question, and it has two parts.

The first part is the phrase Could you tell me on the second part is the question word, what with the information we want to know.

Here it is again.

Could you tell me what time it is?

And there are lots of phrases that we can use for the first part of an indirect question here are some examples.

Do you know?

Do you know when the film finishes?

Have you any idea?

Have you any idea where I left my phone?

Would you mind telling me?

Would you mind telling me how this machine works?

Now, let's get a closer look at the second part of indirect questions.

And it's important to note that we don't use question word order.

That's right.

The subject and the verb are in the same order as they are in statements.

So we don't say.

Can you tell me what time is it?

We say, Can you tell me what time it is?

So its subject it plus verb is Listen out for the statement.

Word order in these indirect questions.

Do you know when the film finishes?

Have you any idea where I left my phone?

Would you mind telling me how this machine works?

One more time?

Please.

Do you know when the film finishes?

Have you any idea where I left my phone?

Would you mind telling me how this machine works?

Thanks, Mike.

Now let's talk about yes.

No questions.

Here are some direct questions.

Is this coffee for everyone?

Does the canteen open for breakfast.

Can I use this computer?

Now?

Listen to the indirect questions.

They use statement word order again.

So listen out for that On also, listen out for the two words that come after the part.

One phrases Do you know if this coffee is for everyone?

Do you know if the canteen opens for breakfast?

Do you know whether I can use this computer one more time?

Please?

Do you know if this coffee is for everyone?

Do you know if the canteen opens for breakfast?

Do you know whether I can use this computer?

So use if or weather in?

Yes, No questions.

The meaning is the same.

But whether it is a bit more formal than if six minutes from BBC learning english dot com on dhe we're talking about indirect questions That's right on.

We use indirect questions a lot in English, especially when we're talking to people we don't know.

So let's recap.

There are two types of indirect questions.

Those that use question words like what?

Where, when, why and how and those that use if or whether but all in direct questions have the same word order of statements they do now.

A quick word about tenses.

Listen to these direct questions.

Does this program finish soon?

Did a package arrive for me this morning?

The first question was in the present simple tents.

We had the auxiliary does with the verb finish, and the second question was in the simple past, with the auxiliary did on the verb arrive.

Let's hear the indirect questions now.

Can you tell me if this program finishes soon?

Could you tell me if a package arrived for me this morning?

So no does?

Or did in the indirect questions in the first question, it's finishes in the present.

Simple.

And in the second question, it's arrived in the past.

Simple, simple on.

Now it's quiz time number one, which is correct.

Is it a Can you tell me where the coffee machine is?

Or B?

Can you tell me where is the coffee machine?

And it's a Can you tell me where the coffee machine is?

Good number two A.

Do you know if this machine does give change be?

Do you know if this machine gives change and it's B.

Do you know if this machine gives change on number three A.

Have you any idea what the time is, or B have you any idea what is The time is on.

It's a Have you any idea what the time is?

Well, actually, it's time for the end of the show.

Well done.

If you got those right, there's lots more about this on our website at BBC learning english dot com, join us again for MME.

Or six minute grammar soon.