Indirect questions are more polite. They start with a phrase like 'Do you know...' or 'Could you tell me...', and inside, the words go in STATEMENT order — no inversion, no do/does/did.
Quick tip: Inside an indirect question: statement order, no do/does/did. Yes/no questions use if/whether.
Use statement order inside
After the opening phrase, keep subject + verb order, just like a statement. Don't swap the verb to the front.
Where is the shop? → Do you know where the shop is?
Who is she? → Can you tell me who she is?
Where are the keys? → Do you know where the keys are?
The verb goes AFTER the subject.
No do / does / did
Drop the auxiliary do/does/did, and put the verb in its normal form.
What time does it open? → Do you know what time it opens?
Where did he go? → Can you tell me where he went?
What does it cost? → Could you tell me what it costs?
No 'do' — the verb takes the -s or past form itself.
Yes/no questions: use if / whether
For a yes/no question, join it with if or whether, then statement order.
Is it open? → Do you know if it's open?
Did they call? → Can you tell me whether they called?
Does he work here? → Do you know if he works here?
if and whether mean the same here.
Common mistakes
Not "Do you know where is the station?" — say "Do you know where the station is?". Statement order inside — verb after the subject.
Not "Can you tell me what time does it open?" — say "Can you tell me what time it opens?". No 'does' — the verb takes -s itself.
Not "Do you know is it open?" — say "Do you know if it's open?". A yes/no question needs 'if' or 'whether'.
Practise it
Start politely (Do you know... / Could you tell me...), then use statement order with no do/does/did. Yes/no? Add if or whether.