PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
Indirect questions (l'interrogation indirecte) are questions that have been reformulated in an indirect manner and embedded within a normal sentence. As a result, they do not usually end with a question mark.
Unlike direct questions where you might invert the subject and verb, an indirect question uses standard main clause word order.
The verb and subject only switch places if the subject is a noun (not a pronoun) AND there is no object.
For questions that don't have a question word (where the answer is yes or no), we use si (if/whether) to introduce the indirect question.
Before il and ils, si becomes s'. (It does not change before elle or on).
Indirect questions usually end with a full stop. The only time you use a question mark is if the introductory sentence itself is a question.
Je voudrais savoir où est le cinéma. (Statement introducing question)
Pouvez-vous me dire où est le cinéma ? (Question introducing question)
Because indirect questions are a form of reported speech, you must apply the same rules for changing pronouns and tenses according to the introductory verb.
"As-tu vu mon parapluie ?"
Sandrine demande à Paul s'il a vu son parapluie.
The tense remains unchanged.
The tense of the indirect question must shift back in time (La concordance des temps).
Présent Imparfait
Passé composé Plus-que-parfait
Futur Conditionnel
Master the art of embedding questions in French through targeted interactive drills.
Je ne sais pas si elle viendra.
I don't know if she'll come. (yes/no → si)
Dis-moi où tu habites.
Tell me where you live. (question word kept, no inversion)
Je me demande ce qu'il veut.
I wonder what he wants. (que → ce que)
Sais-tu ce qui s'est passé ?
Do you know what happened? (qu'est-ce qui → ce qui)
Explique-moi comment ça marche.
Explain to me how it works. (comment kept, normal order)
Je voudrais savoir pourquoi tu es parti.
I'd like to know why you left. (pourquoi kept, SVO order)
Je ne sais pas qu'est-ce que tu veux.
Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux.
Qu'est-ce que → ce que in indirect questions. Never use qu'est-ce que after 'je ne sais pas...' — that's for direct questions only. This is one of the most common B1 errors.
Je ne sais pas où est la gare.
Je ne sais pas où se trouve la gare.
In indirect questions, use normal SVO word order — no inversion. 'Où est la gare' uses inversion (correct for direct questions). In embedded questions: 'où la gare se trouve' or 'où se trouve la gare' (pronominal).
Dis-moi qu'est-ce qui se passe.
Dis-moi ce qui se passe.
Qu'est-ce qui → ce qui in indirect questions. Ce qui = what (subject). Ce que = what (object). The distinction is the same as qui/que: ce qui + verb, ce que + subject + verb.
🕵️ Questions in Disguise
Indirect questions are like questions wearing a disguise. The question word stays (où, quand, comment, pourquoi), but the rest of the sentence goes back to normal SVO order — no inversion, no est-ce que. QUE becomes CE QUE (what), QU'EST-CE QUI becomes CE QUI. And yes/no questions put on a SI mask. It's the same question, just embedded inside a statement — like a spy in civilian clothes!
Indirect questions are tested at B1 in TEF/TCF. At B1, basic transformations: si for yes/no, ce que/ce qui for what, keeping question words with SVO order. At B2, multiple embedded questions in the same text. A classic B1 Expression Écrite sentence: 'Je me demande si...' or 'On peut se demander pourquoi...' — these demonstrate indirect question mastery.
A curious friend asking about plans:
Je me demande si Paul viendra à la fête ce soir.
Je ne sais pas ce qu'il a prévu. Tu peux lui demander ?
J'aimerais savoir pourquoi il ne répond pas à mes messages.
Ne t'inquiète pas. On verra bien ce qui se passe !
Practice French indirect questions (si, ce que, ce qui, word order) with 20 interactive questions on PrepMyFrench. Instant scoring with explanations.
Take PrepMyFrench's free CEFR placement test (A1-C1) to find your exact French level. Grammar assessment with personalized recommendations.