Business English B1 · Lesson 3B

Grammar Bank

The rules behind this lesson — form, use, model sentences and the mistakes to avoid.

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Grammar focus of this lesson

Polite indirect questions

1 structure

Question forms & short answers
Controlling word order, tags and follow-up replies.
I've got this
Rules & form
- ›(Wh-) + auxiliary + subject + verb.
- ›Subject questions need no auxiliary: Who called you?
- ›Short answers repeat the auxiliary: Yes, we have. / No, they didn't.
- ›Tags reverse the auxiliary: You're joining, aren't you?
Examples
- “How did you hear about us?”
- “Who's handling the account?”
- “You haven't signed yet, have you?”
Watch out · Don't double the auxiliary: Did you went ✗.
Your own example