Indirect questions in formal contexts

Introduction

Indirect questions are an essential part of formal communication, especially in business settings. They help convey politeness and professionalism, which are crucial for the TOEIC Listening & Reading test. Understanding how to form and use indirect questions can improve your comprehension and performance in the exam.

Explanation

An indirect question is a question embedded within a statement or another question. They are often used to sound more polite or less direct. To form an indirect question, you typically start with an introductory phrase such as "Could you tell me," "I wonder," or "Do you know," followed by the subject and verb. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions do not use question word order. A question mark is used only if the entire sentence is a question.

• Direct: "What time does the meeting start?"

• Indirect: "Could you tell me what time the meeting starts?"

Notice that in the indirect question, the subject "the meeting" comes before the verb "starts," and the sentence ends with a question mark because the whole sentence is a question.

Common mistakes

• Wrong word order: Learners often mistakenly use question word order in indirect questions. Remember to use statement word order.

  • Wrong: "Can you tell me what time does the meeting start?"

  • Correct: "Can you tell me what time the meeting starts?"

• Missing introductory phrase: Sometimes, learners forget to use an introductory phrase, making the question sound too direct.

  • Wrong: "What time the meeting starts?"

  • Correct: "Could you tell me what time the meeting starts?"

Tips for the TOEIC test

• Listen for indirect questions in the Listening section, as they often appear in conversations and presentations.

• In the Reading section, pay attention to indirect questions in emails and reports, as they indicate formality and politeness.

• Practice identifying the introductory phrases and ensuring the correct word order in your answers.

Mini practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the indirect question:

1. "Do you know __________ (where / the conference / be held) next month?"

2. "I wonder __________ (if / he / finish) the report by Friday."

3. "Could you tell me __________ (how / much / the new software / cost)?"

Answers:

1. "Do you know where the conference will be held next month?"

2. "I wonder if he will finish the report by Friday."

3. "Could you tell me how much the new software costs?"