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Day 10 of 60 · B1 · Grammar
After Could you tell me…? or Do you know…?, use the word order of a normal sentence, subject before verb: Where is the station? becomes Could you tell me where the station is? For yes/no questions, use if: Do you know if the bank is open?
In a direct question the verb comes before the subject, so learners keep that order: Could you tell me where is the station? French also says où est la gare in both. In English, the first part is already the question, so the rest is a normal sentence.
| ✗ Don't say | ✓ Say |
|---|---|
| Could you tell me where is the station? | Could you tell me where the station is? |
| Do you know what time does the film start? | Do you know what time the film starts? |
| Do you know is the bank open? | Do you know if the bank is open? |
| Do you know who is that man? | Do you know who that man is? |
A: Excuse me, could you tell me where the station is?
B: Sure. Go straight on and turn left at the bank.
A: Thanks. Do you know if there's a train to the airport tonight?
B: I think so, but check the board at the station.
Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.
Do, does and did disappear too: What time does it start? becomes Do you know what time it starts? The question mark stays at the end of the whole sentence.
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