What are indirect questions?
In a direct question, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: When will the air taxi be available? In an indirect question, the auxiliary moves back after the subject: Could you tell me when the air taxi will be available? The meaning is identical, but the indirect form sounds more polite and professional.
Indirect questions are formed by placing a direct question inside a polite opening phrase such as Could you tell me…, Do you know…, or I’d like to know… Three rules to remember: (1) the word order changes back to subject + verb; (2) do / does / did disappears; (3) yes / no questions use if or whether instead of a question word. Airline staff, pilots, and air traffic controllers all use indirect questions to communicate professionally and courteously.
Try these
Each item gives you a context and a direct question. Write the indirect version using the opening phrase provided.
- You are at a press briefing for Archer’s new Midnight air taxi. You want to ask politely: When will Midnight carry its first paying passengers?
Use: Could you tell me … - A passenger asks a ground agent about the flight. The passenger wants to know: How long does each air-taxi journey take?
Use: Do you know … - You are asking a transport official about certification. Direct question: Has Midnight received its type certificate from the FAA?
Use: I’d like to know … - A journalist is interviewing an Archer spokesperson. Direct question: How many cities will you serve by 2028?
Use: Can you tell me … - A passenger is checking in. Direct question: Is the air-taxi flight zero-emission?
Use: Do you know …
CEFR Level B1 / ICAO Level 4
Forming indirect questions is one step towards the wider skill of polite, professional communication in aviation English. To keep practising at this level, see Structure: ‘Question words’ — a useful companion piece that covers the individual wh- words that drive both direct and indirect questions.