Lesson 3 of 6
Asking Questions Naturally
Use indirect questions and question tags to sound polite and fluent.
Direct questions can sound blunt to American ears: "Where is the bank?" Native speakers often soften them with indirect questions: "Do you know where the bank is?" They also use question tags (isn't it? don't you?) to invite agreement. Both are signs of an advanced speaker.
LearnThe key ideas
Indirect questions
Start with a polite opener, then use normal statement word order, not question order.
| Direct | Indirect (more polite) |
|---|---|
| Where is the station? | Do you know where the station is? |
| What time does it start? | Could you tell me what time it starts? |
| Is he coming? | Do you know if he's coming? |
Question tags
Add a short tag to a statement to check information or invite agreement. A positive sentence takes a negative tag, and a negative sentence takes a positive tag: "It's cold, isn't it?" "You don't eat meat, do you?"
In casual American speech, "right?" works as a universal tag: "You're coming tonight, right?"
ListenListen and repeat
- Do you know where the restroom is?Polite and indirect.
- Could you tell me how much this costs?Statement word order: "this costs".
- It's a beautiful day, isn't it?Inviting agreement.
- You're from Karachi, right?Casual American tag.
AvoidCommon mistakes
SpeakShadowing practice
Press Listen, then repeat straight away, copying the speed, rhythm and tone. Say each sentence three times, then record yourself.
- Excuse me, do you know where the nearest pharmacy is?
- Could you tell me what time the store closes?
- This is your first time here, right?
CheckQuick quiz
1. Correct indirect question:
2. "She's a doctor, ___?"
3. Most universal casual tag in American English:
PracticeToday's speaking task
Turn 5 direct questions you'd ask at a hotel or office into indirect questions, and say them out loud.