When a question sits inside a longer sentence, such as Do you know ... ? or I don't know ..., the words go back into normal order: subject first, then verb.
A Do you know where Megan is?
A direct question puts the verb before the subject: Where is Megan?
When the same question goes after Do you know ... ?, Can you tell me ... ?, I know ... or I don't know ..., the subject comes first again:
Do you know where Megan is? (not 'Do you know where is Megan?')
| Direct question | Inside a longer sentence |
|---|---|
| Who are those children? | Do you know who those children are? |
| How old is your grandad? | Can you tell me how old your grandad is? |
| What time is it? | I don't know what time it is. |
| Where can we park? | I know where we can park. |
| When are you leaving? | I don't remember when you're leaving. |
| Where have they gone? | I don't know where they have gone. |
- Do you know where Megan is?
- Can you tell me how much these boots are?
- I don't know what time it is.
- I don't remember what Kieran was wearing.
B Questions with do, does and did
Present simple and past simple questions use do / does / did: Where does she work?
Inside a longer sentence, do / does / did disappears, and the verb takes its normal form: works, wanted, went.
Do you know where she works? (not 'Do you know where does she work?')
| Direct question | Inside a longer sentence |
|---|---|
| How do bees make honey? | Do you know how bees make honey? |
| What does Owen want? | I don't know what Owen wants. |
| Why did they leave early? | I don't remember why they left early. |
| Where did I put my keys? | I know where I put my keys. |
- Do you know where she works?
- I don't know what Owen wants.
- Can you remember what time the film started?
C Yes/no questions: if or whether
Some questions begin Is ... ? / Have ... ? / Can ... ? / Do ... ? / Did ... ? and have no question word. The answer is yes or no.
Inside a longer sentence, these questions take if or whether, and the subject comes first:
| Direct question | Inside a longer sentence |
|---|---|
| Is Ruth at home? | Do you know if Ruth is at home? |
| Has he got a van? | I don't know whether he's got a van. |
| Can Nadia drive? | Do you know if Nadia can drive? |
| Do they live in Leeds? | I don't know if they live in Leeds. |
| Did anybody ring? | Do you know whether anybody rang? |
If and whether mean the same here. Use either.
- Do you know if Ruth is at home?
- Do you know whether Ruth is at home?
- I don't know if they live in Leeds.
Exercises
49.1 Answer each question with I don't know where / when / why ... etc. Use the word in brackets.
Has the cat gone out? (where)
I don't know where it's gone.
I don't know where it's gone.
Is Holly at work? (where)
I don't know where she is.
Is the church very old? (how old)
I don't know how old it is.
Will Darren be here soon? (when)
I don't know when he'll be here.
Was she upset because I forgot her birthday? (why)
I don't know why she was upset.
Has Raj worked here a long time? (how long)
I don't know how long he's worked here.
49.2 Complete the sentences. The direct question is in brackets.
(How do bees make honey?) Do you know how bees make honey?
Do you know how bees make honey?
(Where does Callum work?) I don't know .
I don't know where Callum works.
(What did Nadia say?) Do you remember ?
Do you remember what Nadia said?
(Why did they leave early?) I don't know .
I don't know why they left early.
(What time does the match start?) Do you know ?
Do you know what time the match starts?
(How did the fire start?) I don't remember .
I don't remember how the fire started.
49.3 Which is right? Choose the correct words.
Do you know where ___? (are the toilets / the toilets are)
the toilets are
Do you know where the toilets are?
Where ___ going on holiday this year? (are you / you are)
Where are you going on holiday this year?
I don't know what time ___. (does the shop close / the shop closes)
I don't know what time the shop closes.
Can you tell me how much ___? (is this jacket / this jacket is)
Can you tell me how much this jacket is?
What ___ for your birthday? (do you want / you want)
What do you want for your birthday?
Do you know where ___? (do penguins live / penguins live)
Do you know where penguins live?
49.4 Write questions beginning Do you know if ... ?
(Has she got a bike?)
Do you know if she's got a bike?
Do you know if she's got a bike?
(Are they brothers?)
Do you know if they're brothers?
(Does Ellie know Marcus?)
Do you know if Ellie knows Marcus?
(Will Gareth be at the meeting tomorrow?)
Do you know if Gareth will be at the meeting tomorrow?
(Did she get the job?)
Do you know if she got the job?
49.5 Write questions beginning Do you know ... ?
(What does Owen want?)
Do you know what Owen wants?
Do you know what Owen wants?
(Where is the library?)
Do you know where the library is?
(Is Dan working this weekend?)
Do you know if Dan is working this weekend?
(What time does the train leave?)
Do you know what time the train leaves?
(Is the chippy open on Sundays?)
Do you know if the chippy is open on Sundays?
(Where do Jess and Liam live?)
Do you know where Jess and Liam live?
(Did they go to the wedding?)
Do you know if they went to the wedding?
49.6 Complete these sentences with your own ideas. Keep the subject before the verb.
Do you know why ___?
Example answer: Do you know why the train was cancelled?
Do you know what time ___?
Example answer: Do you know what time the post office opens?
Excuse me, can you tell me where ___?
Example answer: Excuse me, can you tell me where the bus station is?
I don't know what ___.
Example answer: I don't know what we're having for tea.
Do you know if ___?
Example answer: Do you know if it's going to rain tomorrow?