SECCION: Conversation / Speaking Activity – Clases de conversación #58 – Como usar los INDIRECT QUESTIONS para pedir algo con mas amabilidad

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Hoy tenemos una nueva publicación en nuestra sección y curso de Speaking o conversación en inglés. Vamos a aprender como usar los indirect questions para pedir algo mas amablemente.  UNASE a nuestra comunidad en WHATSAPP y mande sus preguntas. Siga este enlace https://chat.whatsapp.com/I81V7uakMSk2bCmdD2qibE?mode=ems_copy_t   .Tambien siga la clase con el audio que incluye una conversación al final para solventar lo aprendido. Esto le permitirá ser un poco mas natural cuando se expresa en inglés  Para poder ver todas nuestras lecciones hasta la fecha en esta sección pueden ir a  ESTE VINCULO.

Esta clase escrita viene acompañada de un audio que pueden encontrar al comienzo de esta publicación. Tampoco olviden de seguir redes sociales en Facebook y Twitter para más información de nuestros cursos gratis y sigan. Nuestros audios están en SPOTIFY (enlace aquí) y los que quieran compararme un café o donar para que esta pagina siga adelante pueden hacerlo usando este vinculo.

Introducción

¿Sabías que una agregando una frase en tu pregunta puede hacer que tu inglés suene mucho más educado y natural?

Muchos estudiantes aprenden a preguntar cosas como “Where is the bathroom?” o “What time does the meeting start?”. Aunque estas preguntas son correctas, a veces pueden sonar demasiado directas, especialmente cuando hablas con desconocidos, clientes, profesores o en un ambiente de trabajo.

La buena noticia es que los hablantes nativos rara vez hacen preguntas de esa forma. En su lugar, utilizan una estructura muy sencilla que hace que su inglés suene más amable, profesional y fluido.

En esta lección aprenderás uno de los secretos mejor guardados del inglés cotidiano: las preguntas indirectas (Indirect Questions). Además, descubrirás el cambio de gramática que casi todos los estudiantes cometen y que, una vez que lo entiendas, transformará la manera en que haces preguntas en inglés.

Stop Saying “Where Is the Bathroom?”

Imagine you’re in a hotel in New York. You need to find the restroom.

You ask:

Where is the bathroom?

Is it correct?

✅ Yes.

Is it polite?

🤔 Yes… but it can sound a little direct, especially when speaking to strangers, hotel staff, customers, or your boss.

A more natural and polite way to ask is:

Can you tell me where the bathroom is?

Native English speakers use this type of question all the time. It’s called an indirect question, and learning it will instantly make your English sound more polite, professional, and fluent.

What Is an Indirect Question?

An indirect question has two parts:

1. A polite expression.
2. The actual question.

For example:

Can you tell me + where the bathroom is?

The first part makes your question polite.

The second part gives the information you want.

Polite Expressions You Should Know

Instead of asking a direct question, start with one of these:

• Can you tell me…
• Could you tell me…
• Do you know…
• Do you happen to know…
• Would you mind telling me…
• I was wondering…
• I’d like to know…
• May I ask…

These expressions are common in business meetings, customer service, hotels, airports, restaurants, and everyday conversations.

The Grammar Trick (Most Students Get This Wrong!)

Look at these two sentences:

Direct Question

Where is the bathroom?

Indirect Question

Can you tell me where the bathroom is?

Did you notice the difference?

In the indirect question, the word order changes.

You don’t say:

❌ Can you tell me where is the bathroom?

Instead, you use normal sentence word order:

✅ Can you tell me where the bathroom is?

Think of it this way:

After the polite expression, you’re no longer asking a direct question. You’re simply adding information.

More Examples

Direct:

Where is the station?

Polite:

Can you tell me where the station is?

Direct:

When does the movie start?

Polite:

Do you know when the movie starts?

Direct:

Why did he leave?

Polite:

Could you tell me why he left?

Notice something else?

The auxiliary verb (did) disappears because the verb (left) is already in the past.

Direct:

How do I get to the airport?

Polite:

Can you tell me how I can get to the airport?

Direct:

Where did Sarah go?

Polite:

Do you know where Sarah went?

---

What If There’s No Question Word?

Sometimes our question begins with a verb instead of where, when, or why.

For example:

Is the bank open?

Has the meeting started?

In these cases, use if or whether.

Examples:

Do you know if the bank is open?

Can you tell me whether the meeting has started?

I was wondering if you were available tomorrow.

---

 

Common Mistakes

❌ Can you tell me where is the bathroom?

✅ Can you tell me where the bathroom is?

---

❌ Do you know where did he go?

✅ Do you know where he went?

---

❌ Could you tell me when does the meeting start?

✅ Could you tell me when the meeting starts?

---

❌ Do you know if is the office open?

✅ Do you know if the office is open?

---

Real-Life Situations

At a hotel

Could you tell me where the elevator is?

---

At the airport

Do you happen to know which gate the flight leaves from?

---

At work

Can you tell me when the meeting starts?

---

At a restaurant

Would you mind telling me where the restroom is?

---

While traveling

Could you tell me how I can get to the train station?

---

A Simple Rule to Remember

When you begin with a polite expression like:

• Can you tell me…
• Do you know…
• Could you tell me…

👉 Don’t use question word order after it.

Instead, use normal sentence word order.

Compare:

❌ Can you tell me where is the station?

✅ Can you tell me where the station is.

❌ Do you know where did he go?

✅ Do you know where he went.

Once you remember this rule, you’ll stop making one of the most common mistakes English learners make.

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Challenge Time! 🎯

Rewrite these direct questions to make them more polite.

1. Where is the nearest ATM?
2. Why did she leave early?
3. When does the class begin?
4. Is the restaurant open?
5. Has the bus arrived?
6. How can I connect to the Wi-Fi?
7. Who is the manager?
8. Where did they park the car?
9. What time does the store close?
10. Are pets allowed here?

Answers

1. Can you tell me where the nearest ATM is?
2. Do you know why she left early?
3. Could you tell me when the class begins?
4. Do you know if the restaurant is open?
5. Can you tell me whether the bus has arrived?
6. Could you tell me how I can connect to the Wi-Fi?
7. Do you happen to know who the manager is?
8. Can you tell me where they parked the car?
9. Do you know what time the store closes?
10. Could you tell me if pets are allowed here?

The next time you need information in English, don’t ask only “Where is…?” or “When does…?” Start with a polite expression, use normal sentence word order, and you’ll sound much more like a native speaker.

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