Direct and Indirect Questions

What are Direct and Indirect Questions?

Indirect question adalah bentuk pernyataan yang mengungkapkan pertanyaan orang lain (reported speech) yang telah di katakans ecara langsung (direct speech) dengan mengubah format pembicaraan tersebut sehingga menjadi lebih jelas, alami, dan efisien bagi pendengarnya. Karena merupakan reported speech, indirect question tidak menggunakan question mark (tandatanya) di akhir kalimatnya. 

Rumus Indirect Question

Berbeda dengan direct question yang subject dan verb-nya bertukar posisi, subject pada indirect question diletakkan sebelum verb.Adapunrumus indirect question pada Yes/No question (pertanyaan yang meminta jawabanya/tidak) danWh-Question (pertanyaanakan  informasi) adalah sebagai berikut.

Phrases for Indirect Questions

• Could you tell me…
• Do you know…
• I was wondering…
• Do you have any idea…
• I’d like to know…
• Would it be possible…
• Is there any chance…

Yes/No Direct Questions –> “If” in Indirect Questions

Introductory Clause + if/whether + S + V*

           If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who, when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.

Direct:Are you a teacher ?
Indirect:The man asked me if I was a teacher 

Direct:The teacher asked, “Have you finished your homework?”
Indirect: The teacher asked the students if they had finished their homework.

 

Direct: Did you see my wallet?” asked Gery.
Indirect: Gery wanted to know if I saw his wallet.

Wh- Question 

Introductory Clause + Wh-word** + S + V*

          "Wh- questions begin with the wh- word (how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why) in indirect speech, just as in direct speech.

Direct : Where are you going?
Indirect :He asked her where she was going.

Direct :When do you get up in the morning?
Indirect :I asked him when he got up in the morning.

Direct :Why do you want to work for our company?
Indirect :He asked me why I wanted to work for their company.