Lesson 74: Unit 128 - Indirect General Questions

About this lesson

In this lesson you will learn how to form indirect general questions in English using the constructions with 'if' and 'whether'. You will master the rules for changing verb tenses and word order when moving from direct to reported speech. Through a text about a job interview you will practise real situations in which these constructions are used. You will also learn important word changes such as 'now → then', 'this → that' and 'shall → should' in the context of reported speech.

40 minutes

What you'll learn

• Understand what indirect general questions are and when they are used
• Turn direct general questions into indirect ones with 'if' and 'whether'
• Apply the change of verb tenses correctly in reported speech
• Know the word changes now→then, this→that, shall→should
• Recognise indirect questions in a text about a job interview

Lesson vocabulary

• indirect question He asked me if I liked whiskey.
• general question General questions are introduced by the conjunctions if and whether.
• whether She wanted to know whether I had got a driving licence.
• if He asked me if I could cook.
• driving licence She wanted to know whether I had got a driving licence.
• full-time She asked me if I was looking for a full-time or a part-time job.
• part-time She asked me if I was looking for a full-time or a part-time job.
• long hours She asked me if I could work long hours.
• allergy / allergies She asked whether I had any allergies.
• abroad The interview went on with the question if I had lived abroad before.
• assistant The lady asked me if I had worked as an assistant before.
• translating Her next question was if I was good at translating from English to French.
• disappointed I think she was disappointed that I said I hadn't.
• childhood I told her about my childhood years in France.
• following week Her last question was whether I could start the following week.

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In other languages: Български