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Introduction

How can you ask questions politely? Pippa and Andrew talk about what they would ask a receptionist in a new school, or a stranger if they were lost in a city, and our grammar guru Georgie explains the grammar of indirect questions. Learn to use 'I was wondering...', 'Could you tell me...' and 'I wanted to know...'.

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Grammar explanation

I was wondering...
Could you tell me...?
I wanted to know...

Use the phrases above followed by a statement (where the supermarket is) when you want to ask a question beginning with a question word e.g. what, where, how, why.

Examples:

I was wondering where the closest supermarket is please.
Excuse me. Could you tell me what thre time is please?
I wanted to know how much the general English course is per week.

I was wondering...
Could you tell me...? + if/whether
I wanted to know...

Use the phrases above followed by 'if' or 'whether' when you need to ask a yes/no question.

Examples:

I was wondering if there is a supermarket near here.
Excuse me. Could you tell me whether the bus station is open today?
I wanted to know if the exam preparation course takes under 16s?

To do

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