Where is the cloakroom? becomes Could you tell me where the cloakroom is? The opening makes the request less direct; the embedded clause changes word order.

The idea

Keep the question word, then use subject–verb order. For a yes/no question, introduce the clause with if or whether. Remove question-forming do/does/did from that clause, keeping the verb's tense.

Examples

  • Could you tell me where the cloakroom is?
  • Do you know what time the pottery class starts?
  • Could you tell me if this ticket includes the return trip?
  • I wonder whether the courtyard is open.
  • I'd like to know how much the repair will cost.
  • Do you know who left this notebook here?

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Could you tell me…? is a question; I'd like to know… is a statement and normally ends with a full stop. Polite could does not automatically put the information requested in the past.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Could you tell me ___? (where the cloakroom is / where is the cloakroom)

    Show answer or example answer

    where the cloakroom is

    Use where the cloakroom is: the subject precedes is inside the embedded clause.

  2. Choose the correct option. Do you know ___? (what time the class starts / what time does the class start)

    Show answer or example answer

    what time the class starts

    Use what time the class starts. Without question-forming does, starts carries present-simple agreement.

  3. Choose the correct option. I'd like to know ___. (how much the repair will cost / how much will the repair cost)

    Show answer or example answer

    how much the repair will cost

    Use how much the repair will cost. The subject comes before will in this embedded question.

Use it today

Ask a venue about its entrance, starting time and ticket conditions. Use three different openings and check the word order inside each request.