Indirect Questions

1.Indirect questions

A direct question is an independent sentence. An indirect question is part of a larger sentence.

Indirect questions matter because they let you ask more politely, embed a question in a longer sentence, express uncertainty, say that you do not know something, and report someone else’s question. At A2 two models are especially important: W-question → question word + … + verb at the end; yes/no question → ob + … + verb at the end.

2.Direct and indirect questions

Compare a direct question and an indirect one.

The main difference is word order. In a direct W-question: Wann | beginnt | der Kurs? In the indirect form: …, wann | der Kurs | beginnt. The finite verb moves to the end of the indirect question.

3.Two main types

There are two basic types of indirect questions.

With a question word

If the direct question has a question word, it is kept: wo, wann, warum, wie, wer, was, welcher / welche / welches, wie viel, wie lange, wie oft.

With ob

If the direct question is a yes/no question, ob is used.

4.Indirect W-questions

In an indirect W-question the question word stays. Pattern: lead-in + question word + subject + … + verb.

5.Yes/no indirect questions with ob

If the direct question has no question word, the indirect question usually uses ob. Here ob roughly corresponds to English “whether / if” in this sense.

6.The verb goes to the end

The main grammatical feature of an indirect question is that the finite verb stands at the end. This rule also holds in longer sentences.

The length of the indirect question does not change the basic rule: the finite verb stands at the end.

7.Typical lead-ins

An indirect question often follows a lead-in. Very frequent patterns: Ich weiß nicht, …, Ich möchte wissen, …, Ich frage mich, …, Weißt du, …?, Können Sie mir sagen, …?, Kannst du mir sagen, …?, Wissen Sie, …?, Ich bin nicht sicher, …, Es ist unklar, ….

8.Polite indirect questions

Indirect questions are especially useful when you want to ask for information politely. A direct question is not wrong, but the indirect form often sounds more polite in formal situations and when speaking to staff.

9.Comma and end punctuation

A comma stands between the lead-in and the indirect question. The end mark depends on the whole sentence: a statement ends with a full stop, a question with a question mark.

Do not leave out the comma (Weißt du wo er ist?).

10.ob or a question word?

ob is not used if there is already a real question word. ob is used only when the original direct question is a yes/no question.

Do not combine ob with a W-word: not ob wo and not ob wann.

11.Do not confuse ob and wenn

For yes/no indirect questions, ob is used. wenn has other functions, for example condition or repeated situations.

ob = open yes/no question; wenn = condition / repeated situation.

Wrong: Ich weiß nicht, wenn er kommt. Correct: Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt.

12.dass or ob?

dass and ob have different functions. dass introduces a statement or content; ob introduces an open yes/no question.

dass = statement / content; ob = open alternative: yes or no.

13.wer, wen and mit wem

With wer, the question word itself can be the subject. Other case forms are also kept. The question element keeps the same grammatical function as in the direct question.

14.Questions with prepositions

The preposition stays together with the question element. Typical elements: mit wem, auf wen, für wen, worüber, woran, womit.

15.Compound question expressions

Expressions such as wie viel, wie lange, wie oft stay together as a whole. welcher / welche / welches can also introduce an indirect question.

16.Separable verbs

With separable verbs, the verb stands at the end as a whole in the indirect question. In the subordinate clause the prefix is not separated.

17.Modal verbs

With modal verbs, the infinitive stands before the conjugated modal at the end: … + infinitive + modal verb.

18.Perfekt

Perfekt can also be used inside an indirect question. The conjugated auxiliary stands at the end.

19.wissen, fragen, sagen and sich fragen

Some verbs are especially common with indirect questions. sich fragen is particularly useful for doubt or reflection.

20.Uncertainty

Adjective constructions can also introduce an indirect question. Similar expressions: Es ist unklar, …, Es ist noch nicht sicher, …, Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ….

21.Converting a direct question into an indirect one

The structure is easiest in three steps.

1. Identify the question type. Is there a question word (Wo …?, Wann …?, Warum …?)? Then keep it. Is it a yes/no question (Kommt er?, Hat sie Zeit?)? Then use ob.
2. Use subordinate-clause word order: the subject and other elements stand before the finite verb.
3. Put the verb at the end.

22.Long indirect questions

Long sentences follow the same basic rule. A lot of information can stand in the middle; the finite verb still stays at the end.

23.Everyday situations

These constructions are typical for independent communication at A2.

24.Reporting someone else’s question

An indirect question can report what another person wants to know. At A2 this is not yet the full reported-speech system. The key point is the structure of the embedded interrogative clause.

25.Common mistakes

The end mark depends on the whole sentence:

26.Compact reference table

Core rule: question word / ob + … + finite verb at the end.