Lesson

Do you know where...? He asked me where...

Indirect questions

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Do you know where...? He asked me where...

This lesson explains indirect (embedded) questions with wh-words and how to report questions in speech. You will learn how to form embedded questions (no inversion), how to report direct questions using reporting verbs, and when to change verb tense and pronouns.

Embedded questions (e.g., Do you know where the meeting is?) keep statement word order: subject + verb.
When reporting questions, use reporting verbs (ask, wonder, inquire) and often backshift the tense: "He asked me where the meeting was."
Yes/no questions become embedded with if/whether: "She asked if I could attend."
Pronouns and time expressions may change in reported speech: "today" → "that day".

Table

Direct → Embedded / Reported Questions

Direct question	Embedded / Reported form	Notes / Example
Where is the conference room?	Do you know where the conference room is?	Embedded question: subject before verb (no inversion).
Where is the conference room?	He asked me where the conference room was.	Reported speech: backshift present → past when reporting.
When does the meeting start?	Can you tell me when the meeting starts?	Embedded in a polite question; present tense kept if reporting immediately.
When did the meeting start?	She asked when the meeting had started.	Reported: past simple → past perfect (backshift).
Is the manager available?	Do you know if the manager is available?	Yes/no question becomes if/whether in embedded form.
Where is the printer?	Could you tell me where the printer is?	Polite embedded question in business context.

Tip

Key Rule: Word order and reporting verbs

Remember two main points for embedded and reported questions:

Embedded questions use statement word order: subject + verb (no inversion). Example: "Do you know where the office is?" NOT "Do you know where is the office?"
When reporting a question, use a reporting verb (ask, wonder, inquire) and often backshift the tense if the reporting verb is in the past: "He asked where the office was."

For yes/no questions use if/whether; change time expressions and pronouns when necessary.

Example

Examples in context

Do you know where the meeting room is?

He asked me where the meeting room was.

Can you tell me when the presentation starts?

She asked when the presentation would start.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when forming embedded and reported questions:

Using question word order (inversion) inside an embedded question: Incorrect: "Do you know where is the office?"
Keeping the auxiliary 'do' in embedded questions unnecessarily: Incorrect: "Can you tell me do you have the file?"
Forgetting to backshift the tense in reported speech when required: Incorrect: "He asked me where the meeting is." (if reporting later)
Failing to change time expressions or pronouns when reporting: e.g., not changing "today" to "that day".

Always check word order, auxiliary verbs, tense shift, and reference words (pronouns/time).

Quiz

Choose the correct embedded question:

Hint: Check the position of subject and verb in the embedded clause.

Quiz

Complete: He asked me _____ the report had been submitted.

Hint: Think about which wh-word introduces a question about time.

Quiz

Which sentence correctly reports: "Where does the HR office meet new employees?"

Hint: Check both word order and subject-verb agreement in the embedded clause.

Key Points

GrammarPoint

embedded question

noun CEFR B1 //ɪmˈbɛdɪd ˈkwɛs.tʃən//

A question placed inside a larger sentence without inversion of subject and verb.

Do you know where the office is?

Vocabulary

report (a question)

verb CEFR B1 //rɪˈpɔːrt//

To tell someone what another person asked, often changing form and tense.

He reported the question to the manager.

GrammarPoint

backshift

noun CEFR B2 //ˈbækˌʃɪft//

The change of verb tense in reported speech (e.g., present → past).

Direct: "I am late." → Reported: He said he was late.

GrammarPoint

if / whether

conjunction CEFR B1 //ɪf/ /ˈwɛðər//

Words used to introduce embedded yes/no questions.

She asked if I would join the meeting.

Vocabulary

where

adverb / question word CEFR A1 //wɛər//

Asks about place or location.

Where is the nearest subway station?

GrammarPoint

inversion

noun CEFR B2 //ɪnˈvɜːrʒən//

Reversing the normal order of subject and auxiliary verb in questions (e.g., Is he...?).

Direct question: "Where is the office?" (inversion used in direct question).