Indirect Questions Practice Test — Basic

All 45 questions with answers

Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.

1. Q1Choose the correct indirect question: 'Where is the nearest bus stop?'

   ACould you tell me where the nearest bus stop is? BDo you know where is the nearest bus stop? CCould you tell me where is the nearest bus stop? DCan you tell me where is the nearest bus stop?

   Answer: A. Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?

   In an indirect question, we use the normal order: subject first, then the verb. Instead of 'is the bus stop', we say 'the bus stop is'.

2. Q2Choose the correct indirect question: 'What time does the movie start?'

   AI'd like to know what time does the movie start. BI'd like to know what time starts the movie. CI'd like to know what time the movie starts. DI'd like to know what time does start the movie.

   Answer: C. I'd like to know what time the movie starts.

   When we start with 'I'd like to know', we don't need the helper word 'does'. We just use the normal order: 'the movie starts'.

3. Q3Select the grammatically correct sentence.

   AI'd like to know where is the supermarket. BCould you tell me where is the supermarket? CCan you tell me where the supermarket is? DDo you know where is the supermarket?

   Answer: C. Can you tell me where the supermarket is?

   Inside a longer question like 'Can you tell me...', we put the subject ('the supermarket') before the verb ('is').

4. Q4Complete the sentence: 'Could you tell me where ___?'

   Ais the library Bis library the Cthe library be Dthe library is

   Answer: D. the library is

   In indirect questions, the person or thing comes before the verb. 'The library' is the thing, and 'is' is the verb.

5. Q5Identify the error: 'Do you know where does the train leave from?'

   ADo you know where leaves the train from? BDo you know where the train leaves from? CDo you know where the train does leave from? DDo you know where does the train leave from?

   Answer: D. Do you know where does the train leave from?

   We don't use 'does' inside an indirect question. The correct way to say this is 'where the train leaves from'.

6. Q6Correct this sentence: 'Can you tell me what time is it?'

   ACan you tell me what time it be? BCan you tell me what time is it now? CCan you tell me what time is it? DCan you tell me what time it is?

   Answer: D. Can you tell me what time it is?

   In a regular question, we say 'is it?'. But inside a polite question like 'Can you tell me...', we change the order to 'it is'.

7. Q7Choose the correct indirect question: 'How much is this jacket?'

   ADo you know how much this jacket is? BDo you know how much does this jacket cost? CDo you know how much this jacket is costing? DDo you know how much is this jacket?

   Answer: A. Do you know how much this jacket is?

   The verb 'is' should go after the subject 'this jacket' when it is part of a longer question.

8. Q8Select the correct version of the question.

   AI'd like to know where does he live. BI'd like to know where he lives. CI'd like to know where lives he. DI'd like to know where is he living.

   Answer: B. I'd like to know where he lives.

   We use the normal sentence order 'he lives' instead of using 'does' or swapping the words.

9. Q9Complete the sentence: 'Do you know what time the shop ___?'

   Adoes close Bcloses Cis close Dclose

   Answer: B. closes

   We don't use 'does' here. We use the normal verb form 'closes' because it matches 'the shop'.

10. Q10Choose the correct indirect question: 'Who is that man?'

    ACan you tell me who is that man? BCan you tell me who is that man there? CCan you tell me who that man be? DCan you tell me who that man is?

    Answer: D. Can you tell me who that man is?

    Move the verb 'is' after the subject 'that man'. Don't say 'who is that man?' inside another question.

11. Q11Identify the error: 'I'd like to know why are you so tired.'

    AI'd like to know why you be so tired. BI'd like to know why are you so tired. CI'd like to know why are you tired so. DI'd like to know why you are so tired.

    Answer: B. I'd like to know why are you so tired.

    In this sentence, the order should be 'you are'. Saying 'are you' is only for direct questions.

12. Q12Choose the correct indirect question: 'Why is the office closed?'

    ADo you know why the office closed is? BDo you know why is closed the office? CDo you know why the office is closed? DDo you know why is the office closed?

    Answer: C. Do you know why the office is closed?

    Put the subject 'the office' before the verb 'is'. This is the standard order for indirect questions.

13. Q13Select the correct sentence.

    ACan you tell me how old does she be? BCan you tell me how old is she? CCan you tell me how old she be? DCan you tell me how old she is?

    Answer: D. Can you tell me how old she is?

    When you start with 'Can you tell me...', the verb 'is' must come after 'she'.

14. Q14Complete the sentence: 'Could you tell me how much this book ___?'

    Acosts Bis cost Cdoes cost Dcost

    Answer: A. costs

    We don't use 'does' in indirect questions. Use the simple verb form 'costs' for one book.

15. Q15Choose the correct indirect question: 'Where are my keys?'

    AI want to know where are my keys. BI want to know where are keys my. CI want to know where my keys are. DI want to know where my keys be.

    Answer: C. I want to know where my keys are.

    The things you are looking for ('my keys') must come before the verb ('are').

16. Q16Choose the correct indirect question: 'Is the bank open?'

    ADo you know if the bank is open? BDo you know if does the bank open? CDo you know if the bank open is? DDo you know if is the bank open?

    Answer: A. Do you know if the bank is open?

    For Yes/No questions, we add 'if' and use normal word order: 'the bank is open'.

17. Q17Select the correct indirect question: 'Does she speak English?'

    ACan you tell me if she speaks English? BCan you tell me if she speak English? CCan you tell me whether does she speak English? DCan you tell me whether she speak English?

    Answer: A. Can you tell me if she speaks English?

    Use 'if' and remove the helper word 'does'. Remember to add the 's' to the verb: 'she speaks'.

18. Q18Identify the error: 'I'd like to know does the train arrive on time.'

    AI'd like to know if arrive the train on time. BI'd like to know does the train arrive on time. CI'd like to know if the train does arrive on time. DI'd like to know if the train arrives on time.

    Answer: B. I'd like to know does the train arrive on time.

    You cannot use 'does' to start an indirect question. You must use 'if' or 'whether'.

19. Q19Identify the error: 'Can you tell me whether is the meeting cancelled?'

    ACan you tell me whether the meeting is cancelled? BCan you tell me whether is the meeting cancelled? CCan you tell me whether the meeting be cancelled? DCan you tell me whether is cancelled the meeting?

    Answer: B. Can you tell me whether is the meeting cancelled?

    After 'whether', the order must be 'the meeting is'. Do not put the verb 'is' before the subject.

20. Q20Choose the correct indirect question: 'Are they coming to the party?'

    ADo you know if are they coming to the party? BDo you know if they coming to the party? CDo you know if they are coming to the party? DDo you know if are coming they to the party?

    Answer: C. Do you know if they are coming to the party?

    Use 'if' followed by the subject 'they' and then the verb 'are'.

21. Q21Select the correct sentence.

    AI wonder if he likes pizza. BI wonder whether he like pizza. CI wonder if does he like pizza. DI wonder if likes he pizza.

    Answer: A. I wonder if he likes pizza.

    We don't use 'does' here. Just use 'if' and the verb 'likes'.

22. Q22Complete the sentence: 'Could you tell me ___ you are ready?'

    Athat Bdoes Cwhat Dif

    Answer: D. if

    We use 'if' for questions that have a Yes or No answer.

23. Q23Choose the correct indirect question: 'Did he finish his work?'

    ADo you know if did he finish his work? BDo you know if he finish his work? CDo you know if he finished his work? DDo you know if he did finish his work?

    Answer: C. Do you know if he finished his work?

    To ask about the past, remove 'did' and use the past tense verb 'finished'.

24. Q24Select the correct sentence.

    ACan you tell me whether is it raining? BCan you tell me if it is raining? CCan you tell me if it raining is? DCan you tell me whether is raining it?

    Answer: B. Can you tell me if it is raining?

    Use 'if' followed by 'it is' in the normal order.

25. Q25Identify the error: 'I want to know if does the shop accept credit cards.'

    AI want to know if does the shop accept credit cards. BI want to know if the shop accepts credit cards. CI want to know if the shop does accept credit cards. DI want to know if accept the shop credit cards.

    Answer: A. I want to know if does the shop accept credit cards.

    We do not use 'does' after the word 'if'. The correct form is 'if the shop accepts'.

26. Q26Choose the correct indirect question: 'Is this seat taken?'

    ACould you tell me if is this seat taken? BCould you tell me if this seat taken is? CCould you tell me if this seat is taken? DCould you tell me whether is this seat taken?

    Answer: C. Could you tell me if this seat is taken?

    The subject 'this seat' comes before the verb 'is'.

27. Q27Complete the sentence: 'Do you know ___ she lives nearby?'

    Adoes Bwhat Cwhere Dif

    Answer: D. if

    Use 'if' because this is a Yes/No question.

28. Q28Select the correct sentence.

    AI'm not sure if is coming the bus. BI'm not sure whether the bus is coming. CI'm not sure whether does the bus come. DI'm not sure if is the bus coming.

    Answer: B. I'm not sure whether the bus is coming.

    After 'whether', we use normal order: 'the bus' then 'is'.

29. Q29Choose the correct indirect question: 'Was he at home?'

    ADo you know if he was at home? BDo you know if he be at home? CDo you know if was he at home? DDo you know if he was home at?

    Answer: A. Do you know if he was at home?

    Put 'he' before 'was'. The word order should look like a regular statement: 'he was at home'.

30. Q30Identify the error: 'Can you tell me if are they interested in the job?'

    ACan you tell me if interested are they in the job? BCan you tell me if they are interested in the job? CCan you tell me if are they interested in the job? DCan you tell me if they be interested in the job?

    Answer: C. Can you tell me if are they interested in the job?

    The verb 'are' should come after the subject 'they'. The correct phrase is 'if they are interested'.

31. Q31Choose the correct indirect question: 'Why did you leave?'

    ACould you tell me why you did leave? BCould you tell me why left you? CCould you tell me why you left? DCould you tell me why did you leave?

    Answer: C. Could you tell me why you left?

    In the past tense, remove 'did' and change the verb to 'left'.

32. Q32Complete the sentence: 'I'd like to know how much the ticket ___.'

    Adoes cost Bcost Cis costing Dcosts

    Answer: D. costs

    Use the normal verb form 'costs' after the subject 'the ticket'.

33. Q33Select the correct sentence.

    ADo you know what wants he? BDo you know what he want? CDo you know what does he want? DDo you know what he wants?

    Answer: D. Do you know what he wants?

    Remove 'does' and use the verb 'wants' for 'he'.

34. Q34Identify the error: 'Tell me where is the station located.'

    ATell me where the station is located. BTell me where is the station located. CTell me where the station located is. DTell me where the station does locate.

    Answer: B. Tell me where is the station located.

    The correct order is 'where the station is'. Do not put the verb 'is' before the station.

35. Q35Choose the correct indirect question: 'How do you spell your name?'

    ACan you tell me how do you spell your name correctly? BCan you tell me how do you spell your name? CCan you tell me how you spell your name? DCan you tell me how spell you your name?

    Answer: C. Can you tell me how you spell your name?

    Remove the helper word 'do' and use the normal order: 'you spell'.

36. Q36Complete the sentence: 'Do you know where ___?'

    Athey live Bdo they live Cthey do live Dlive they

    Answer: A. they live

    Use the normal sentence order: 'they live'. Do not use 'do' in the middle of this question.

37. Q37Select the correct sentence.

    AI wonder when the concert does end. BI wonder when the concert ends. CI wonder when ends the concert. DI wonder when does the concert end.

    Answer: B. I wonder when the concert ends.

    Remove the helper word 'does' and use the normal verb 'ends'.

38. Q38Choose the correct indirect question: 'Who is that woman?'

    ACan you tell me who that woman be? BCan you tell me who is that woman? CCan you tell me who is that woman there? DCan you tell me who that woman is?

    Answer: D. Can you tell me who that woman is?

    The verb 'is' goes after the subject 'that woman'.

39. Q39Identify the error: 'I want to know how much did you pay for it.'

    AI want to know how much you paid for it. BI want to know how much you did pay for it. CI want to know how much paid you for it. DI want to know how much did you pay for it.

    Answer: D. I want to know how much did you pay for it.

    Remove 'did' and change 'pay' to 'paid'.

40. Q40Complete the sentence: 'Could you tell me what time ___?'

    Adoes the bus arrive Bthe bus arrives Cthe bus arrive Darrives the bus

    Answer: B. the bus arrives

    Use normal order: the subject ('the bus') comes before the verb ('arrives').

41. Q41Choose the correct indirect question: 'How are you?'

    AI'd like to know how are you. BI'd like to know how you are. CI'd like to know how you be. DI'd like to know how are you doing.

    Answer: B. I'd like to know how you are.

    Change 'are you' to 'you are' in an indirect question.

42. Q42Select the correct sentence.

    ADo you know where is my phone at? BDo you know where my phone be? CDo you know where is my phone? DDo you know where my phone is?

    Answer: D. Do you know where my phone is?

    The verb 'is' should go at the end, after 'my phone'.

43. Q43Complete the sentence: 'Do you know how ___?'

    Adoes he feel Bhe feeling Che feels Dis he feeling

    Answer: C. he feels

    Use normal order: 'he feels'. No helper word like 'does' is needed here.

44. Q44Identify the error: 'Can you tell me where did you buy that shirt?'

    ACan you tell me where you did buy that shirt? BCan you tell me where did you buy that shirt? CCan you tell me where bought you that shirt? DCan you tell me where you bought that shirt?

    Answer: B. Can you tell me where did you buy that shirt?

    Instead of 'did you buy', use the past tense 'you bought'.

45. Q45Choose the correct indirect question: 'What is your address?'

    ACould you tell me what your address be? BCould you tell me what is your address? CCould you tell me what is your address now? DCould you tell me what your address is?

    Answer: D. Could you tell me what your address is?

    Put the verb 'is' after 'your address'.