Our first tip: How to ask indirect questions in English

In English if you want to ask a question the process is very known and common with the use of the traditional auxiliaries 'Do', 'Does', 'Did', 'Will', 'Would', 'Can', 'Could' etc.Follow this example:

Do you know Marion ? (or)

Does she drive to work everyday ? (or)

Did your father buy a new house last year ?


But the fact is, if you want to ask different questions using other words meaning the same idea you have a possibility.This is called 'indirect questions':

In this question: Where is Rachel ?

You can have: Do you know where Rachel is ?

In this case we are using the form 'Do you know...?' together with the original sentence showed first.This means you have more than one option to express yourself, like in Portuguese:

a.'Onde estão os banheiros ?', in English we have: 'Where are the toilets ?'

b.'Você pode me dizer onde estão os banheiros ?' (more formal), in English the same way happens: 'Can you tell me where the toilets are ?'

Note that the verb in the first sentence moves to the end of the second sentece when you use 'Do you know...' or 'Can you tell me...?'

Some links for exercises will be given here.Just check the sidebar of your blog and you'll find suggestions of books and their respective chapters, links on the net that show exactly the topic we are showing in the post.So, enjoy it and have fun !!


Teacher Fábio Pires

How did English 'happen' in your life ?

Lots of people have different reasons when they start learning the language: professional reasons, personal taste in music, news or films, parents' advice etc.In your case what has influenced you on speaking English ??In my case I've always loved watching cartoons and when I was a kid I tried to write down (1) all the words in English that were showed to me.Reading those words and trying to comprehend them was never an easy task.I got the translation from the very own cartoon narrators and wrote them on a piece of paper, trying to memorise them in the future.This made me more confident in my skills and motivated to learn a new language.So, starting a course in a language school was just a consequence.And you ??Could you tell us how you took up (2) English language ??What about your past experiences ??



*In some texts the meaning (in English) of some vocabulary will be shown here, as a glossary, in this case we have:

(1) write down means 'to write something on a piece of paper so you do not forget it'.

(2) took up (present, 'take up') means 'to start doing a particular job or activity'



Teacher Fábio Pires

The start of a new tool for you - Use your English

This is the first post of 'Use your English': a project which was born from a teacher's good will, that in collaboration with other professionals, will bring you some help on how to improve, change and increase the quality of your English.Every week we'll bring you news, articles, tips, vocabulary, exercises, songs and our experience of teaching this nice and attractive language that has conquered the whole world.British, American and some Australian English will be considered in our blog as well as curiosities, people's experiences and some history involving these sub-divisions of the language.We invite you students, teachers, native speakers, foreigners of all languages and professionals in general who are interested in learning Shakespeare's language.Be welcome !!


Teacher Fábio Pires