Ask Politely

Pre-intermediate (A2) 20 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Worksheet preview for Pre-intermediate A2 showing grammar exercises, answering, reforming, completing questions, and speaking activity

ESL Indirect Questions Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Answering, Reforming and Completing Questions - Speaking Activity: Freer Practice

This productive indirect questions worksheet helps students learn how to form indirect questions. First, students examine three direct questions and their indirect...

ESL Indirect Questions Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Answering, Reforming and Completing Questions - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice This productive indirect questions worksheet helps students learn how to form indirect questions. First, students examine three direct questions and their indirect equivalents and answer questions about how indirect questions are formed. Next, students change direct questions into indirect questions. Students then complete indirect questions with their own ideas. Lastly, students practice asking and answering the indirect questions with their classmates.
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Direct and Indirect Questions

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Direct vs. Indirect Questions Worksheet preview for Pre-intermediate A2 with grammar exercises, writing, rewriting, unscrambling, and speaking activities

ESL Direct vs. Indirect Questions Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Writing and Rewriting Questions - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions

In this free direct and indirect questions worksheet, students learn and practice three rules for changing direct questions into indirect questions. First...

ESL Direct vs. Indirect Questions Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Writing and Rewriting Questions, Unscrambling - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions In this free direct and indirect questions worksheet, students learn and practice three rules for changing direct questions into indirect questions. First, students read through an introduction to indirect questions and a grammar rule for verb placement. Students then use the information to change direct questions into indirect questions using the polite expressions: 'Could you tell me...?' and 'Do you know...?' After that, students read the second rule that talks about how the helping verbs do, does or did are omitted from indirect questions. Next, students put words in order to form direct questions with do, does and did, which they then make into indirect questions. After that, students learn the last rule which looks at how to change direct yes/no questions into indirect ones. Students then change yes/no questions into indirect questions using a polite expression with 'if'. Lastly, students write three indirect questions of their own and ask them to their classmates.
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I was wondering...

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Activity preview for Intermediate B1 with speaking, asking and answering questions from prompts, communicative practice

ESL Indirect Questions Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Communicative Practice

In this communicative indirect questions activity, students practice using indirect question phrases to make polite requests and respond by politely accepting or declining them. Each student receives...

ESL Indirect Questions Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts, Communicative Practice In this communicative indirect questions activity, students practice using indirect question phrases to make polite requests and respond by politely accepting or declining them. Each student receives a card with a situation and a request. Students then go around the class, explaining their situation and using indirect questions to make polite requests to their classmates. Classmates only agree to a request if they genuinely wouldn't mind doing it. For example, a student should agree to drive someone to the airport at 6 a.m. only if they have a car and don't mind waking up early. If a classmate doesn't want to do something, they politely decline and explain why. Students record the names of classmates who accept their request on the back of their card. At the end of the activity, each student gives feedback to the class on how many people agreed to their request.
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Indirect Questions Practice

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Worksheet preview for Intermediate B1 with grammar gap-fill, unscrambling, error correction, and rewriting questions

ESL Indirect Questions Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Error Correction, Rewriting Questions

Here is a comprehensive indirect questions worksheet to help students learn and practice how to ask questions politely. First, students complete indirect questions with words and phrases from a box. Next...

ESL Indirect Questions Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Error Correction, Rewriting Questions Here is a comprehensive indirect questions worksheet to help students learn and practice how to ask questions politely. First, students complete indirect questions with words and phrases from a box. Next, students put words in the correct order to form indirect questions. Students then correct mistakes in indirect questions. Lastly, students change direct questions into indirect questions using the polite phrases from the worksheet.
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Street Interviews

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Role-Play preview for Intermediate B1 with speaking, asking and answering questions, communicative street interview practice

ESL Indirect Questions Role-Play - Speaking Activity: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Communicative Practice

In this engaging indirect questions speaking activity, students ask and answer indirect questions in a street interview. Students imagine that they are reporters for a local radio or TV station and...

ESL Indirect Questions Role-Play - Speaking Activity: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Communicative Practice In this engaging indirect questions speaking activity, students ask and answer indirect questions in a street interview. Students imagine that they are reporters for a local radio or TV station and that they are going to interview people on the street to find out public opinion on a chosen topic. Students then select a topic and complete five indirect questions based on the topic, e.g. 'Could you tell me how you feel about cryptocurrency?' Next, in two groups, reporters and passers-by, the passers-by walk around the class as if they were walking along the street. The reporters stop the passers-by and ask if they would mind answering a few questions. The reporter then writes the person's name and interviews them, noting down their answers. When all the reporters have spoken to three people, students swap roles. Finally, students report back to the class on the answers they received.
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Super Polite

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Role-Play preview for Intermediate B1 with speaking, asking and answering questions from prompts, communicative practice, pair work

ESL Indirect Questions Role-Play - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions, Communicative Practice - Pair Work

In this free indirect questions speaking activity, students role-play two situations where someone politely asks for information using indirect questions. In pairs, students begin by reading their role...

ESL Indirect Questions Role-Play - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts, Communicative Practice - Pair Work In this free indirect questions speaking activity, students role-play two situations where someone politely asks for information using indirect questions. In pairs, students begin by reading their role cards for the first situation, which takes place at a ticket office. One student assumes the role of the ticket agent, while the other plays the customer. Next, the two students participate in a role-play where the customer politely asks for information about a flight to London, using indirect questions. Afterwards, pairs move on to a hotel role-play. In this scenario, one student takes on the role of a hotel guest, and the other acts as the hotel receptionist. The guest then uses indirect questions to politely ask for information about the hotel. Finally, pairs present their role-plays to the class.
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Would you mind telling me...?

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Board Game preview for Intermediate B1 with speaking, forming, asking and answering questions, group work

ESL Indirect Questions Board Game - Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions - Group Work

In this fun indirect questions board game, students change direct personal information questions into indirect questions and ask them to other students. In groups, players take turns rolling the dice and...

ESL Indirect Questions Board Game - Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions - Group Work In this fun indirect questions board game, students change direct personal information questions into indirect questions and ask them to other students. In groups, players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counter along the board. When a player lands on a square, they read the direct question, change it into an indirect question and ask it to another student in the group, e.g. 'Would you mind telling me who your best friend is?' After the question has been answered, the group members judge the player's question. If the question is grammatically correct and the polite phrase is different from the previous question, the player stays on the square. If the question is wrong, the player goes back two squares. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
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Celebrity Interviews

Upper-intermediate (B2) 30 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Activity preview for Upper-intermediate B2 with writing, grammar, speaking, role-play, freer practice, pair work

ESL Indirect Questions Activity - Writing, Grammar, and Speaking: Writing, Reforming, Asking, and Answering Questions, Role-Play, Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this imaginative indirect questions role-play activity, students practice forming, asking, and answering indirect questions in celebrity interviews. First, students...

ESL Indirect Questions Activity - Writing, Grammar, and Speaking: Writing, Reforming, Asking, and Answering Questions, Role-Play, Freer Practice - Pair Work In this imaginative indirect questions role-play activity, students practice forming, asking, and answering indirect questions in celebrity interviews. First, students write the name of the celebrity they want to be for the interview. Another student then writes ten direct interview questions for the celebrity. Next, in pairs, one student acts as the interviewer and the other as the celebrity. The interviewer reads the first direct question and reforms it as an indirect question using a polite opener from the worksheet. The interviewer then ticks the polite opener. Students may only use each polite opener once. If the celebrity agrees that the indirect question is grammatically correct, they answer it. If not, the celebrity asks the interviewer to repeat the question. After that, the interviewer notes down the celebrity's answer and then reforms the second question, and so on. When the students have finished, they report back to the class on the celebrities' answers. Afterwards, students swap roles and repeat the activity.
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Indirect Questions Race

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Indirect Questions Game preview for Upper-intermediate B2 with grammar, rewriting questions, pair work

ESL Indirect Questions Game - Grammar: Rewriting Questions - Pair Work

In this enjoyable indirect questions game, students race to rewrite direct questions as indirect questions using different polite phrases. One student from each pair runs to your desk, picks up the first question strip, and takes it back to their...

ESL Indirect Questions Game - Grammar: Rewriting Questions - Pair Work In this enjoyable indirect questions game, students race to rewrite direct questions as indirect questions using different polite phrases. One student from each pair runs to your desk, picks up the first question strip, and takes it back to their partner. Pairs then race to rewrite the direct question as an indirect question using the given polite phrase. As soon as a pair has completed the indirect question, a student from the pair comes to you with their strip. If the indirect question is correct, give the student the second strip, and so on. If an indirect question is incorrect, the pair has to rewrite it. The first pair to rewrite all 20 indirect questions correctly wins the game.
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Using Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are a polite, softened way to ask for information, using openers like 'Could you tell me...?' or 'Do you know...?' rather than asking directly. When students skip indirect question forms in formal or professional settings, they risk coming across as blunt or rude, even when they intend to be polite.

This page covers indirect questions across A2, B1, and B2 levels, with nine resources including worksheets, speaking activities, role-plays, and a board game, with two available as free downloads. When a direct question becomes indirect, the helping verb do, does, or did is removed and the verb changes form to match the subject; for yes/no questions, 'if' or 'whether' replaces the yes/no structure entirely.

The table below shows how direct questions change form when converted to indirect questions across the main sentence types.

Sentence TypeDirect QuestionIndirect QuestionPolite Opener Used
Wh- question (with do/does/did) 'Where do you live?' 'Could you tell me where you live?' Could you tell me...?
Wh- question (with auxiliary) 'Where has she gone?' 'Do you know where she has gone?' Do you know...?
Wh- question (with be) 'What is the time?' 'Could you tell me what the time is?' Could you tell me...?
Wh- question (no auxiliary) 'Who is your manager?' 'Could you tell me who your manager is?' Could you tell me...?
Yes/No question (with do/does) 'Does she speak French?' 'Could you tell me if she speaks French?' Could you tell me if...?
Yes/No question (with auxiliary) 'Have they arrived?' 'Do you know if they have arrived?' Do you know if...?
Yes/No question (with be) 'Is the meeting today?' 'Could you tell me if the meeting is today?' Could you tell me if...?

When to Use Indirect Questions

Approaching a stranger in public: When you need directions or help from someone you don't know, indirect questions signal that you respect their time and aren't demanding a response, for example softening 'Where is the nearest pharmacy?' to 'Could you tell me where the nearest pharmacy is?'

Formal written communication: In emails to managers, clients, or people in positions of authority, indirect questions keep your tone respectful rather than blunt, for example writing 'I was wondering if you could let me know when the report will be ready' instead of 'When will the report be ready?'

Interviewing or researching opinions: When gathering information from members of the public or conducting any kind of survey, indirect questions make the request feel less intrusive and more conversational, for example opening with 'Would you mind telling me how you feel about this issue?'

3-Step Framework for Teaching Indirect Questions

1. Build the Rules: Start with the grammar foundation. Students need to understand what changes when a direct question becomes indirect: word order flips to statement order, helping verbs like do, does, and did drop out, and yes/no questions pick up a polite expression with 'if.' Getting all three rules clear before production saves a lot of correction later.

2. Add Competitive Production: Once students can form indirect questions in controlled practice, a board game format pushes them to produce quickly and accurately under light pressure. Players can only stay on their square if their indirect question is both grammatically correct and uses a different polite phrase from the previous player's question, which means students have to vary their openers throughout the game. If the question is wrong, they go back two squares.

3. Take It Into the Real World: Put students in an authentic communicative situation where indirect questions are the natural tool. Give each student a topic and ask them to build five indirect questions around it before going out to interview classmates, for instance framing their questions like 'Could you tell me how you feel about cryptocurrency?' This moves the language from drilled form to genuine use.

Common Mistakes with Indirect Questions

Keeping the auxiliary do/does/did inside the indirect question: Students often carry the helping verb do, does, or did into the indirect question, forgetting that it drops out and the main verb changes form instead. Wrong: 'Could you tell me where does she work?' Correct: 'Could you tell me where she works?'

Keeping inverted word order instead of switching to statement order: Students often leave the subject and verb in the inverted order of a direct question rather than switching to the normal subject-verb order that indirect questions require. Wrong: 'Do you know what time is it?' Correct: 'Do you know what time it is?'

Common Questions About Teaching Indirect Questions

What is a good worksheet for learning indirect questions?

The worksheet Direct and Indirect Questions walks students through all three key rules: how verb placement changes, how do, does, and did drop out, and how yes/no questions use 'if.' Each rule comes with a controlled practice exercise before students write and ask their own indirect questions. It is also available as a free download.

What is an engaging speaking activity for practicing indirect questions?

In the free activity Super Polite, students use indirect questions across two back-to-back role-plays: first at a ticket office, asking about a flight to London, then at a hotel, asking for information as a guest. The two contrasting scenarios give students immediate, repeated practice in realistic contexts, and pairs present both role-plays to the class at the end.

What is a fun game for practicing indirect questions?

One student from each pair runs to the teacher's desk, picks up a question strip, and races back to their partner in the game Indirect Questions Race. The pair rewrites the direct question as an indirect one using the given polite phrase and keeps going until all 20 are correct. The first pair to finish wins.

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