Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 49 · A2

Do you know where ... ? I don't know what ... etc.

When a question sits inside a longer sentence, such as Do you know ... ? or I don't know ..., the words go back into normal order: subject first, then verb.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

Do you know where Megan is?A2 screens of questions
Questions with do, does and didB2 screens of questions
Yes/no questions: if or whetherC1 screen of questions
Put it together+5 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

Do you know where Megan is?

A direct question puts the verb before the subject: Where is Megan?

When the same question goes after Do you know ... ?, Can you tell me ... ?, I know ... or I don't know ..., the subject comes first again:

Do you know where Megan is? (not 'Do you know where is Megan?')

Direct question Inside a longer sentence
Who are those children? Do you know who those children are?
How old is your grandad? Can you tell me how old your grandad is?
What time is it? I don't know what time it is.
Where can we park? I know where we can park.
When are you leaving? I don't remember when you're leaving.
Where have they gone? I don't know where they have gone.
  • Do you know where Megan is?
  • Can you tell me how much these boots are?
  • I don't know what time it is.
  • I don't remember what Kieran was wearing.

Point A · Exercise 49.1 · part 1 of 2

Answer each question with I don't know where / when / why ... etc. Use the word in brackets.

  1. Example

    Has the cat gone out? (where)

    I don't know where it's gone.

    AnswerI don't know where it's gone.

  2. Is Holly at work? (where)

  3. Is the church very old? (how old)

  4. Will Darren be here soon? (when)

  5. Was she upset because I forgot her birthday? (why)

Point A · Exercise 49.1 · part 2 of 2

Answer each question with I don't know where / when / why ... etc. Use the word in brackets.

  1. Has Raj worked here a long time? (how long)

Point B of 3

Questions with do, does and did

Present simple and past simple questions use do / does / did: Where does she work?

Inside a longer sentence, do / does / did disappears, and the verb takes its normal form: works, wanted, went.

Do you know where she works? (not 'Do you know where does she work?')

Direct question Inside a longer sentence
How do bees make honey? Do you know how bees make honey?
What does Owen want? I don't know what Owen wants.
Why did they leave early? I don't remember why they left early.
Where did I put my keys? I know where I put my keys.
  • Do you know where she works?
  • I don't know what Owen wants.
  • Can you remember what time the film started?

Point B · Exercise 49.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. The direct question is in brackets.

  1. Example

    (How do bees make honey?) Do you know how bees make honey?

    AnswerDo you know how bees make honey?

  2. (Where does Callum work?) I don't know .

  3. (What did Nadia say?) Do you remember ?

  4. (Why did they leave early?) I don't know .

  5. (What time does the match start?) Do you know ?

Point B · Exercise 49.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. The direct question is in brackets.

  1. (How did the fire start?) I don't remember .

Point C of 3

Yes/no questions: if or whether

Some questions begin Is ... ? / Have ... ? / Can ... ? / Do ... ? / Did ... ? and have no question word. The answer is yes or no.

Inside a longer sentence, these questions take if or whether, and the subject comes first:

Direct question Inside a longer sentence
Is Ruth at home? Do you know if Ruth is at home?
Has he got a van? I don't know whether he's got a van.
Can Nadia drive? Do you know if Nadia can drive?
Do they live in Leeds? I don't know if they live in Leeds.
Did anybody ring? Do you know whether anybody rang?

If and whether mean the same here. Use either.

  • Do you know if Ruth is at home?
  • Do you know whether Ruth is at home?
  • I don't know if they live in Leeds.

Point C · Exercise 49.4

Write questions beginning Do you know if ... ?

  1. Example

    (Has she got a bike?)

    Do you know if she's got a bike?

    AnswerDo you know if she's got a bike?

  2. (Are they brothers?)

  3. (Does Ellie know Marcus?)

  4. (Will Gareth be at the meeting tomorrow?)

  5. (Did she get the job?)

Put it together · Exercise 49.3 · part 1 of 2

Which is right? Choose the correct words.

  1. Example

    Do you know where the toilets are? (are the toilets / the toilets are)

    AnswerDo you know where the toilets are?

  2. Where going on holiday this year? (are you / you are)

  3. I don't know what time . (does the shop close / the shop closes)

  4. Can you tell me how much ? (is this jacket / this jacket is)

  5. What for your birthday? (do you want / you want)

Put it together · Exercise 49.3 · part 2 of 2

Which is right? Choose the correct words.

  1. Do you know where ? (do penguins live / penguins live)

Put it together · Exercise 49.5 · part 1 of 2

Write questions beginning Do you know ... ?

  1. Example

    (What does Owen want?)

    Do you know what Owen wants?

    AnswerDo you know what Owen wants?

  2. (Where is the library?)

  3. (Is Dan working this weekend?)

  4. (What time does the train leave?)

  5. (Is the chippy open on Sundays?)

Put it together · Exercise 49.5 · part 2 of 2

Write questions beginning Do you know ... ?

  1. (Where do Jess and Liam live?)

  2. (Did they go to the wedding?)

Put it together · Exercise 49.6

Complete these sentences with your own ideas. Keep the subject before the verb.

  1. Example

    Do you know why ___?

    Do you know why the train was cancelled?

    Example answerDo you know why the train was cancelled?

  2. Do you know what time ___?

  3. Sorry to bother you, do you know where ___?

  4. I don't know what ___.

  5. Do you know if ___?

Lesson 49 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: She said that ... He told me that ...Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Do you know where Megan is?–Not checkedB. Questions with do, does and did–Not checkedC. Yes/no questions: if or whether–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked