Could You Tell Me? (J9A)
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EN: Indirect questions (noun clauses as objects) are used to ask for information politely. Unlike direct questions ('Where is the train station?'), indirect questions follow statement word order (subject + verb): 'where the train station is'.
Do you know what time the library closes?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, starting a question to a stranger with 'Excuse me' is essential for politeness. Using an indirect question like 'Do you know where...' is considered much more polite and less demanding than a direct question like 'Where is...'.
EN: An indirect question is a question embedded within another question or statement. In this sentence, 'where you want to go' is an indirect question functioning as the direct object of the verb 'tell'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb) instead of question word order (verb + subject). Therefore, we say 'where you want to go' instead of 'where do you want to go'.
Could you tell me what time the train leaves?
EN: The verb 'tell' is a ditransitive verb, which means it can take two objects: an indirect object (usually a person) and a direct object (usually a thing or a clause). In this structure, 'me' is the indirect object, and the noun clause 'where you want to go' is the direct object.
She told me the truth.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, starting a helpful response with 'Sure' or 'Of course' is a common way to show friendliness and enthusiasm. It immediately reassures the person asking for help that you are willing to assist them before asking for more details.
EN: The verb 'wonder' is often followed by an indirect question starting with 'if' or 'whether' to express curiosity or a polite inquiry. This structure functions as a noun clause serving as the direct object of 'wonder'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb).
I wonder if the library is open on Sundays.
EN: The existential 'there is' structure is used to state the existence of a singular noun ('a bus stop'). In this sentence, it is embedded within the noun clause, maintaining its standard subject-verb order after 'if'.
There is a convenience store around the corner.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking a direct question like 'Where is the bus stop?' can sometimes feel too abrupt when approaching a stranger. Using indirect questions starting with 'I wonder if...' or 'Could you tell me...' is a common politeness strategy to soften the request.
EN: Indirect questions with 'which': When an information question is embedded inside another question (like 'Do you know...?'), it becomes an indirect question. The word order changes from question order to statement order (subject + verb). Here, 'which bus you need' is the noun clause serving as the direct object of 'know'.
Do you know which book she bought?
EN: The determiner 'which' is used to ask for specific information when there is a limited set of choices (e.g., a specific list of bus routes). It is followed directly by the noun it modifies ('bus').
Which color do you prefer, blue or red?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, when helping a stranger with directions, it is common to ask clarifying questions like 'Do you know which bus you need?' to provide more precise help, as transit systems can be complex. It shows a polite and cooperative attitude.
EN: Indirect Questions: When embedding a question inside another statement or question (like 'Could you tell me...'), we use statement word order (subject + verb) instead of question word order. Here, 'how much the ticket costs' is used instead of 'how much does the ticket cost'.
Do you know what time the train leaves?
EN: Polite Requests with 'Could you...': 'Could' is the past form of 'can', but in this context, it is used to make a request sound more polite, formal, and indirect.
Could you help me find my keys?
EN: In English-speaking countries, asking for information using indirect questions like 'Could you tell me...' is considered much more polite and socially appropriate than direct questions like 'How much does the ticket cost?', especially when speaking to strangers or service staff.
EN: The phrase 'be not sure' is followed by a noun clause (indirect question) acting as the complement. In this sentence, 'how much it is now' is an indirect question, which must use statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order (verb + subject).
I am not sure where he lives.
EN: The wh-adverb 'how much' is used here to ask about the price or cost of something. When embedded in a noun clause, it functions as the conjunction introducing the clause.
Do you know how much this book costs?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, saying 'I am not sure' is a polite and common way to decline answering a question when you lack information, often preferred over a blunt 'I don't know'. Adding 'now' at the end implies that prices may have changed recently, softening the statement further.
EN: This sentence uses an indirect question (noun clause) as the direct object of the verb 'know'. In English, when a question is embedded within another sentence, it loses its question word order (verb-subject) and takes on statement word order (subject-verb). Here, 'when the next bus comes' is the noun clause, where 'the next bus' is the subject and 'comes' is the verb.
Do you know where she lives?
EN: The simple present tense 'comes' is used here to describe a scheduled future event (the bus arrival). In English, we often use the simple present tense for timetables, schedules, and itineraries.
The train leaves at 9:00 tomorrow morning.
EN: In English-speaking countries, asking strangers for transit information using indirect questions like 'Do you know...' or 'Could you tell me...' is considered much more polite and natural than direct questions like 'When does the next bus come?'.
EN: The sentence uses a noun clause starting with 'that' (which is omitted here) as the direct object of the verb 'think'. The structure is 'Subject + think + (that) + Subject + Verb'. It is commonly used to express an opinion or suggestion politely.
I think we should leave now.
EN: The phrase 'what time it arrives' is an indirect question functioning as the noun clause object of the verb 'check'. In indirect questions, the word order must be statement order (Subject + Verb: 'it arrives') rather than question order ('does it arrive').
Do you know what time the movie starts?
EN: This sentence uses an indirect question (noun clause) as the direct object of the verb 'tell'. In English, when a question is embedded inside another sentence, it loses its question word order (verb + subject) and takes on statement word order (subject + verb). Therefore, we say 'where the restroom is' instead of 'where is the restroom'.
Do you know what time the movie starts?
EN: The modal verb 'can' is used here to make a polite request. Using 'Can you tell me...' is a common and polite way to ask for information from strangers, though 'Could you...' is slightly more formal.
Can you help me find my keys?
EN: In American English, 'restroom' is the most common and polite term to use in public places like restaurants or theaters. In British English, 'toilet' or 'loo' is more frequently used, while 'bathroom' is typically reserved for a room with a bathtub or shower in a private home.
EN: The sentence uses 'show + indirect object (you) + direct object (where it is)'. The direct object is a noun clause (indirect question) introduced by the wh-adverb 'where'. In noun clauses, the word order must be subject + verb ('it is'), not verb + subject ('is it').
Can you show me where the library is?
EN: The modal verb 'will' is used here to express a spontaneous decision or a helpful offer made at the moment of speaking.
Don't worry, I will help you with your bags.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, offering to physically show someone where a place is (rather than just giving directions) is considered extremely polite and helpful. Using 'Sure' at the beginning sets a warm, welcoming tone.
EN: The verb 'wonder' is often followed by an indirect question (noun clause) introduced by a question word like 'why', 'how', 'where', etc. In indirect questions, we use statement word order (subject + verb) instead of question word order.
I wonder where she bought that beautiful dress.
EN: The adverb 'so' is used before adjectives or adverbs to add emphasis, meaning 'to such a great degree' or 'extremely'.
The weather is so warm today.
EN: Using 'I wonder...' is a very common and polite way in English-speaking cultures to express curiosity or to indirectly ask a question without sounding too demanding or intrusive.
EN: The phrase 'I don't know why' functions as an indirect question where the noun clause 'why [something is the case]' is abbreviated. The subject and verb after 'why' are omitted because they are understood from the context, a common conversational ellipsis.
She looks sad, and I don't know why.
EN: The adjective 'near' is used here as a predicative adjective meaning 'close in time' or 'approaching soon'. It describes the festival occurring in the near future.
Don't worry, the exams are over and the holidays are near.
EN: Indirect questions (embedded questions) are used when a question is placed inside another sentence. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions follow statement word order (subject + verb) instead of question word order (verb + subject). In this sentence, 'where the museum was' is the indirect question, functioning as the direct object of the verb 'asked'.
She asked me where the library is.
EN: Sequence of tenses (backshift) in reported speech. When the reporting verb is in the past tense ('asked'), the verb in the reported clause or indirect question often shifts back into a past tense ('was' instead of 'is') to maintain tense consistency.
He wanted to know what time the store closed.
EN: The structure 'be + adjective + to-infinitive' is used to express feelings or reactions to an action. In this sentence, 'was happy to tell' indicates that the speaker felt pleased or willing to perform the action of telling.
She was glad to help her neighbors with their garden.
EN: An indirect question (noun clause) introduced by 'how' functions as the direct object of the verb 'tell'. It follows the statement word order (subject + verb): 'how she could get there', rather than the question word order 'how could she get there'.
He explained how we could solve the problem.
EN: The conjunction 'if' is used to introduce noun clauses (indirect questions) expressing doubt or uncertainty, meaning 'whether'. In past tense reporting, the verb in the noun clause must shift back to match the main verb (backshift of tenses: 'is' becomes 'was').
He asked if the library was open on weekends.
EN: The adverb 'also' is used to add extra information. In a sentence, it typically goes before the main verb (except for the verb 'to be').
They also wanted to visit the local market.
EN: In many Western countries, museums and galleries are traditionally closed on Mondays for maintenance and staff rest. This makes 'wondering if they are open on Monday' a very practical and common travel scenario.
EN: Indirect questions (noun clauses) function as objects. When an information question (like 'What time does it open?') is embedded within another sentence, it changes to statement word order (subject + verb) and the auxiliary verb 'does' is removed: 'what time it opened'.
Please tell me what time the library closes.
EN: The past simple tense is used here for backshift (sequence of tenses). Because the main reporting verb 'told' is in the past, the verbs in the noun clause ('opened' and 'closed') are also backshifted to the past tense, even though the schedule might still be true now.
EN: Indirect Questions (Noun Clauses): When a question is embedded within another sentence, it follows statement word order (subject + verb) instead of question word order. Here, 'where she could find...' is a noun clause acting as the direct object of the verb 'asked'.
He asked me where I lived.
EN: Tense Agreement (Backshift): In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense ('asked'), the verbs in the reported clause usually shift back into the past tense as well ('can' becomes 'could').
She wanted to know what time the train left.
EN: The verb 'show' can take two objects: an indirect object (the person, 'her') and a direct object (the thing shown, 'where the night market was'). This is a ditransitive verb pattern (Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object).
He showed me his new car.
EN: An indirect question (noun clause) introduced by 'where' is used as the direct object. In indirect questions, the word order must be statement order (Subject + Verb: 'the night market was') rather than question order ('was the night market'). The past tense 'was' is used to match the past tense of the main verb 'showed' (backshift/sequence of tenses).
She told me where the library was.
EN: Night markets (夜市) are a central part of Taiwanese culture and daily life, famous for street food, snacks (小吃), and games. When tourists visit Taiwan, locals are often very enthusiastic about recommending and showing them where the nearest or best night markets are.
EN: Indirect questions (noun clauses) are used to ask questions politely or report questions. In an indirect question, the word order is subject + verb (statement order), not verb + subject (question order). For example, 'how much a bowl of noodles cost' instead of 'how much did a bowl of noodles cost'. Also, notice the backshift of tense to the past ('cost' is past tense here) to match the main verb 'wanted'.
He wanted to know where the train station was.
EN: The measure word 'a bowl of' is used to count uncountable nouns like 'noodles' or 'soup'. The noun following 'of' is plural for countable items (noodles) or singular/uncountable for liquids (soup).
I would like to order a bowl of rice.
EN: An indirect question (noun clause) introduced by 'why' functions as the direct object of the verb 'explain'. In indirect questions, the word order is subject + verb (why our town was famous), not verb + subject (why was our town famous).
She explained why she was late for the meeting.
EN: The adjective phrase 'be famous for' is used to describe what a person, place, or thing is well-known for. In this sentence, 'was famous for' is in the past tense to match the main verb 'explained'.
Italy is famous for its delicious pasta and pizza.
EN: In Taiwan and many Asian cultures, 'snacks' (often referring to local street food or 'xiaochi') are a major source of local pride. Towns are frequently famous for one specific dish, and food culture is a central topic of conversation when welcoming tourists.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It takes a singular verb.
Reading books helps us expand our knowledge.
EN: Noun Clause with 'How': 'How' can introduce a noun clause acting as the object of a verb or preposition. The word order inside the noun clause must be statement order (subject + verb), not question order.
I remember how beautiful the sunset was.
EN: The phrase 'reminds me how kind people can be' reflects a common cultural value in English-speaking societies that emphasizes community support, empathy, and recognizing the everyday goodness in others.
EN: This sentence uses an indirect question (noun clause) embedded within a direct question. In English, when a question is placed inside another sentence, it loses its question word order (verb + subject) and takes on statement word order (subject + verb). Therefore, we say 'where the library is' instead of 'where is the library'.
Do you know what time the store closes?
EN: 'Could you...' is a polite modal auxiliary verb pattern used to make requests. It is more formal and polite than 'Can you...'.
Could you help me with this heavy bag?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking for directions using indirect questions like 'Could you tell me...' is considered much more polite and natural when approaching strangers, compared to direct questions like 'Where is the library?'.
EN: An indirect question is a question embedded within another statement or question. In this sentence, 'where it is' is an indirect question acting as the object of the verb 'know'. Unlike direct questions ('Where is it?'), indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb).
Do you know when the train arrives?
EN: In informal spoken English, 'than me' is commonly used as a comparative prepositional phrase. In formal grammar, 'than I (do)' is preferred because 'than' acts as a conjunction introducing a clause, but 'than me' is widely accepted and natural in daily conversations.
She plays tennis better than me.
EN: Using 'I think' at the beginning of a sentence is a common way for native English speakers to soften their statements, making them sound more polite, humble, or less demanding when giving directions or advice.
EN: Indirect questions (noun clauses) introduced by 'if' or 'whether' are used to express uncertainty. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions follow the statement word order (subject + verb) instead of the question word order.
Do you know if the library is open on Sundays?
EN: The verb 'know' is a transitive verb that can take a noun clause as its direct object. In this sentence, the entire clause 'if the store is open now' acts as the object of 'know'.
I don't know if he will come to the party.
EN: In English-speaking countries, asking 'Do you know if...' is a very polite and common way to inquire about store hours, directions, or general information from strangers, as it sounds less demanding than 'Is the store open now?'.
EN: The verb 'wonder' is commonly used to express curiosity or a polite inquiry. It is often followed by an indirect question (noun clause) starting with question words like 'what time', 'where', 'how', or 'if/whether'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions follow statement word order (subject + verb).
I wonder where she lives.
EN: The phrase 'what time' acts as a conjunction introducing a noun clause. Within this noun clause ('what time it closes today'), the subject is 'it' and the verb is 'closes'. Because 'it' is third-person singular and the statement refers to a regular schedule, the verb 'close' takes the 's' ending ('closes').
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking 'I wonder...' is considered much softer and more polite than directly asking 'What time does it close?'. It avoids sounding demanding, especially when speaking to service staff or strangers.
EN: Indirect questions are used to ask for information in a polite way. When we embed a question inside another question (like 'Can you tell me...'), the word order of the embedded question changes from question order (verb + subject) to statement order (subject + verb). Here, 'how I can join' is used instead of 'how can I join'.
Could you tell me where the library is?
EN: The modal verb 'can' is used here to express possibility or ability in the future/present, asking about the method or steps required to achieve a goal.
How can we solve this problem?
EN: In English-speaking countries, joining clubs (such as sports, academic, or hobby clubs) is a very common way to socialize and integrate into a community, especially in school or university settings. Asking 'how I can join' is a polite and standard way to show interest.
EN: This sentence uses an indirect question (noun clause) introduced by 'how' as the direct object of the verb 'explain'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions follow statement word order (subject + verb): 'how you can sign up' instead of 'how can you sign up'.
She will show you how you can use the machine.
EN: The phrasal verb 'sign up' means to register or join an organization, activity, or service. It is an intransitive phrasal verb in this context, meaning it does not require a direct object.
You need to sign up before the deadline.
EN: In professional and casual English contexts, offering to 'explain how to do something' is a polite and helpful way to guide someone. Using 'you can' instead of 'you have to' or 'you must' sounds more encouraging and less demanding, which is standard in friendly customer service or peer-to-peer assistance.
EN: This sentence uses an indirect question (noun clause) as the object of the verb 'know'. In English, when a question is embedded inside another sentence, it loses its question word order (verb-subject) and takes on statement word order (subject-verb). Here, 'who our new teacher is' follows the order: question word (who) + subject (our new teacher) + verb (is).
Do you know where they live?
EN: The possessive determiner 'our' is used to show that the 'new teacher' belongs to or is associated with the speaker and the listener(s). It modifies the noun phrase 'new teacher'.
Our team won the game yesterday.
EN: An indirect question (noun clause) is used as the complement of the adjective 'sure'. In indirect questions, the word order is subject + verb (what his name is), not verb + subject (what is his name).
I don't know where she lives.
EN: The structure 'be + not sure + noun clause' is commonly used to politely express uncertainty or lack of knowledge about a specific fact.
We are not sure when the meeting starts.
EN: Using 'I am not sure...' is a polite and indirect way to admit you do not know something, which sounds softer and more helpful than a blunt 'I don't know'.
EN: Indirect Questions (Noun Clauses): When a question is embedded within another sentence (like 'Could you tell me...'), it becomes an indirect question. The word order changes from question order (verb + subject) to statement order (subject + verb). Here, 'why the bus is late' is used instead of 'why is the bus late'.
Do you know where the library is?
EN: Polite Requests with 'Could you...': 'Could' is the past form of 'can', but in this context, it is used to make a request sound more polite, formal, and indirect.
Could you help me with this heavy bag?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking 'Why is the bus late?' directly to a driver or station staff can sometimes sound demanding or accusatory. Softening the question with 'Could you tell me...' makes the inquiry polite and more likely to receive a helpful response.
EN: The phrase 'have no idea' is a common idiomatic expression meaning 'do not know'. It is often followed by a noun clause starting with a question word (like 'why', 'what', 'where') to express lack of knowledge about a specific matter.
I have no idea where she lives.
EN: An indirect question (noun clause) introduced by 'why' follows the statement 'I have no idea'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb): 'why it is...' instead of 'why is it...'.
Do you know why the meeting was canceled?
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To not know something at all; to be completely unaware.
To agree to become involved in an organized activity; to register.
A designated place where buses stop for passengers to get on and off.
A street market which operates at night and is especially known for selling food and snacks.