Sometimes when we ask a question, we can phrase it slightly differently and change it to a yes/no question. For example,
Where is Kathy?
and
Do you know where Kathy is?
are both asking for information about the location of Kathy. But the first question is answered differently than the second question:
Where is Kathy?
– She’s at the bank.
– She’s at school.
– She’s sleeping.
– Etc.
The second question, however, is a yes/no question. If a person answers “yes,” we must ask a second question to get the information we are looking for:
Do you know where Kathy is?—No (, I don’t know where she is).
• In this case, we have to find someone else to ask!Do you know where Kathy is?—Yes (, I know where she is).
• In this case, we can ask a second question (a “follow-up” question) to get the information we are looking for (Kathy’s location):
Where is she?
– She’s playing tennis.
– She’s at the dentist’s.
– She’s on vacation.
Notice with these questions “Do you know where….is?” the verb comes at the end. The verb also comes at the end with the answer:
No (, I don’t know where she is).
Yes (, I know where she is).
Instead of “Do you know…?” we can also say “Can you tell me…?” Both ways of asking have the same meaning:
Do you know where Kathy is? = Can you tell me where Kathy is?
Other questions converted to yes/no questions that would need a follow-up question – note the verb at the end of the question:
• Who is that man? ==> Do you know who that man is? / Can you tell me who that man is? / I know who that man is. / I don’t know who that man is. / I don’t remember who that man is.
• What time is it? ==> Do you know what time it is? / Can you tell me what time it is? / I know what time it is. / I don’t know what time it is.
• How tall is Jack? ==> Do you know how tall Jack is? / Can you tell me how tall Jack is? / I know how tall Jack is. / I don’t know how tall Jack is. / I don’t remember how tall Jack is.
• When is Tom going? ==> Do you know when Tom is going? / Can you tell me when Tom is going? / I know when Tom is going. / I don’t know when Tom is going. / I don’t remember when Tom is going.
For converting questions with do / does / did, use simple present or simple past in the converted sentence, at the end:
• Where does Mr. Smith live? ==> Do you know where Mr. Smith lives? / Can you tell me where Mr. Smith lives? / I know where Mr. Smith lives. / I don’t know where Mr. Smith lives. / I don’t remember where Mr. Smith lives.
• How much does this cost? ==> Do you know how much this costs? / Can you tell me how much this costs? / I know how much that costs. / I don’t know how much that costs. / I don’t remember how much that costs.
• How does rain make a rainbow? ==> Do you know how rain makes a rainbow? / Can you tell me how rain makes a rainbow? / I know how rain makes a rainbow. / I don’t know how rain makes a rainbow. / I don’t remember how rain makes a rainbow.
• Why do dogs bark? ==> Do you know why dogs bark? / Can you tell me why dogs bark? / I know why dogs bark. / I don’t know why dogs bark. / I don’t remember why dogs bark.
• When did Jack leave? ==> Do you know when Jack left? / Can you tell me when Jack left? / I know when Jack left. / I don’t know when Jack left. / I don’t remember when Jack left.
For questions beginning with Is….? / Do….? / Can….?, we can also convert, using if or whether:
• Is Tom sleeping? ==> Do you know if Tom is sleeping? / Do you know whether Tom is sleeping?
• Have the kids eaten lunch yet? ==> Do you know if the kids have eaten lunch yet? / Do you know whether the kids have eaten lunch yet?
• Can Jack ride a bicycle? ==> Do you know if Jack can ride a bicycle? / Do you know whether Jack can ride a bicycle?
• Did Frank call? ==> Do you know if Frank called? / Do you know whether Frank called?
Exercise. Answer the following questions with I don’t know where / when / why / what / etc.
Example:
Is Tom at the gym? (where) ==> I don’t know where Tom is.
1. Was Miss Jackson in class yesterday? (where)
2. Has the lawn mower been broken very long? (how long)
3. Is the hotel new? (how old)
4. Have the children gone to school? (where)
5. Will Mother come home soon? (when)
Exercise. Complete the following sentences.
Example:
Why do dogs bark? I don’t know ==> I don’t know why dogs bark.
When is the next bus? Do you know ==> Do you know when the next bus is?
1. What did Tom eat for lunch? I don’t remember
2. When is Mary going to college? I don’t know
3. Why is Jack selling his car? Do you know
4. Where is the hotel? Do you know
5. How did Patrick break his leg? I don’t know
6. How hot is it? Do you know
7. What did Sally get for her birthday? I don’t remember
Exercise. Write questions using Do you know if….?
Example:
Can Michael come with us? ==> Do you know if Michael can come with us?
1. Is Jack invited to the party?
2. Has Martin booked his vacation?
3. Can Steve fix my broken clock?
4. Do the twins like chocolate cake?
5. Was the window left open?
6. Does Jill have a key to Dad’s house?
7. Have they picked up the garbage yet?
8. Did Debbie do the dishes?
9. Had the book been checked out of the library?
10. Were there a lot of people at the beach?
