D / FORMAL LETTER / INDIRECT QUESTIONS
indirect questions for formal letters
I would like to know .......
I would be grateful if you could tell me .....
I would appreciate it if you could tell me ....
+ question word + subject + verb
(or ‘if’ / ‘whether’)
I wonder if you could tell me ........
Could you please tell me ....... ?
TASK: REWRITE THESE DIRECT QUESTIONS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
When will the order arrive ?
How long is the meeting going to last ?
When does the special offer end ?
What qualifications do I need ?
How big is the meeting room ?
When should I pay the deposit ?
When was the company founded ?
8
9
10
Who is in charge of the department ?
Who will meet me at the airport ?
How many people will attend the conference ?
ANSWERS
1
I would like to know when the order will arrive.
2
I would be grateful if you could tell me how long the meeting is going to last.
3
I wonder if you could tell me when the special offer ends?
4
I would appreciate it if you could tell mewhat qualifications I need.
5
I would like to know how big the meeting room is.
6
I would be grateful if you could tell me when I should pay the deposit.
7
I wonder if you could tell me when the company was founded ?
The following questions are ‘subject questions’. Don’t change the word order when you
make an indirect question.
8
9
10
I would be grateful if you could tell me who is in charge of the department.
I would lke to know who will meet me at the airport.
I would appreciate it if you could tell me how many people will attend the conference.
D / FORMAL LETTER / INDIRECT QUESTIONS
USING NOUNS INSTEAD OF QUESTIONS
I would be grateful if you could give me some information about (+ NOUN).
I would appreciate it if you could give me some details about (+ NOUN).
I wonder if you could give me some idea about (+ NOUN).
EXAMPLES
I would be grateful if you could give me some idea about your company.
I would appreciate it if you could give me some information about the start date.
I wonder if you could give me some details about the price of the tour ?