Questions that sound natural
Word order, indirect questions and question tags.
10 minutes · A free lesson from Grammar for speaking
- Direct questions put the auxiliary first: Where are you going? What did she say?
- Indirect questions use statement order: Can you tell me where the station is? — not
where is the station. - Question tags match the verb: You're coming, aren't you? She doesn't eat meat, does she? "Isn't it?" does not fit every sentence.
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Which is correct?
- Can you tell me where the station is?
- Can you tell me where is the station?
- Can you tell me where the station is it?
Show the answer
A: Can you tell me where the station is? — Indirect questions use statement order: where the station is.
Quick check: Which tag is correct? “She doesn't eat meat, ___?”
- isn't it
- does she
- doesn't she
Show the answer
B: does she — The tag matches the verb and turns the negative around: doesn't… does she?
Quick check: Which is correct?
- Where you are going?
- Where you going are?
- Where are you going?
Show the answer
C: Where are you going? — Direct questions put the auxiliary before the subject.
Practise: speaking accurately
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now