EnglishPolite questions in everyday situations
Look at each card. Say correct or incorrect. Then repair one incorrect question aloud.
Check the word order
- Could you tell me where the bank is?
- Correct
- Could you tell me where is the bank?
- Incorrect
- I was wondering if the station is open.
- Correct
- I was wondering if is the station open.
- Incorrect
- Could you tell me when the post office opens?
- Correct
- Could you tell me when does the post office open?
- Incorrect
- Do you know whether I can buy a ticket here?
- Correct
- Do you know whether can I buy a ticket here?
- Incorrect
- Would you mind telling me where the help desk is?
- Correct
- Would you mind telling me where is the help desk?
- Incorrect
Build polite information questions
Connect the direct question to the polite version
Connect each direct question with its polite version
- Where is the bank?
- Could you tell me where the bank is?
- When does the station open?
- I was wondering when the station opens.
- Is the post office open?
- Could you tell me whether the post office is open?
- Can I buy a ticket here?
- Could you tell me if I can buy a ticket here?
Keep the question word, then use statement order
Connect each direct question with the correct word order
- Where can I get help?
- where I can get help
- When does the next train leave?
- when the next train leaves
- What time does the bank close?
- what time the bank closes
- Is there a ticket office nearby?
- whether there is a ticket office nearby
Complete the polite questions
Use the direct question as your guide.
- Direct question: Where is the bank?
Could you tell me [___] ?
- Direct question: When does the station open?
I was wondering [___] .
- Direct question: Where can I buy a ticket?
Could you tell me [___] ?
- Direct question: What time does the post office close?
Could you tell me [___] ?
- Direct question: Is the bank open on Saturday?
I was wondering [___] .
- Direct question: Can I get help here?
Could you tell me [___] ?
Choose the natural word order
Check the pattern with be
Decide if each sentence is correct.
Check the pattern with do and can
Choose the polite option
Select the best form.
- At the station: Could you tell me [___] ?
- At the post office: I was wondering [___] ?
- Asking for permission: [___]
- Asking for cooperation: [___]
Check polite openers
Module 3: Polite questions
Core pattern
Situation | Useful pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
Ask for information | Could you tell me + question word + subject + verb? | Could you tell me where the bank is? |
Ask for information politely | I was wondering + question word / if / whether + subject + verb. | I was wondering when the station opens. |
Ask about yes/no information | Could you tell me if/whether + subject + verb? | Could you tell me whether the post office is open? |
Ask permission | Could I + verb? | Could I buy a ticket here? |
Ask for cooperation | Would you mind + verb-ing? | Would you mind helping me? |
Remember: after a polite opener, use statement order:
where the bank is — not where is the bank.
Quick check
Connect each prompt to the correct ending.
Connect the question beginning with the correct ending
- Could you tell me where
- the station is?
- I was wondering when
- the post office opens.
- Do you know whether
- the bank is open today?
- Could you tell me if
- I can buy a ticket here?
Choose the right opener for the situation
Connect each polite opener with its purpose
- Could you tell me…?
- ask for information
- I was wondering if…
- ask a polite yes/no question
- Could I…?
- ask permission
- Would you mind…?
- ask for cooperation
Say one polite question for a real place you know: a bank, station, post office, shop, or café.
