Polite question wrappers: Could you tell me / Do you know + statement order (where the station is, if the shop is open)
I can wrap questions politely with statement order and if/whether.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Could you tell me where platform nine is? My train leaves in four minutes.
Could you tell me where platform nine is? My train leaves in four minutes.
I wonder if the bakery still has those cinnamon knots.
I wonder if the bakery still has those cinnamon knots.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Wrap the question - unwind the inversion:
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| Where is the station? | Could you tell me where the station is? |
| What time does it open? | Do you know what time it opens? |
| Is the shop open? | Do you know if/whether the shop is open? |
Inside the wrapper: statement order, no do/does/did. Yes/no questions need if/whether. Wrappers: Could you tell me..., Do you know..., I wonder..., I'd like to know...
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesInversion inside indirect questions
Statement order after the wrapper
if/whether dropped in yes/no
Yes/no → if/whether + statement
Could you tell me where platform nine is? My train leaves in four minutes.
Could you tell me where platform nine is? My train leaves in four minutes.
Wrapper + statement order under time pressure.
I wonder if the bakery still has those cinnamon knots.
I wonder if the bakery still has those cinnamon knots.
I wonder if: the softest question wrapper.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises