direct and indirect questions / Lesson Plan

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Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to differentiate between direct and indirect questions and use them appropriately in English communication.

Materials and Prep

  • No additional materials are required for this lesson.
  • Prior knowledge of basic sentence structure and question formation in English is recommended.

Activities

  • Activity 1: Direct vs Indirect Questions Quiz

    • Take a quiz to test your understanding of direct and indirect questions. Create a list of 10 questions, half of which are direct questions and the other half are indirect questions. Exchange the quiz with a partner and check each other's answers.

  • Activity 2: Role Play

    • Work with a partner and create a dialogue where you practice using both direct and indirect questions. Choose a scenario such as ordering food at a restaurant or asking for directions. Act out the dialogue and try to make it as natural as possible.

  • Activity 3: Direct and Indirect Questions in Songs

    • Listen to a few songs of your choice and identify direct and indirect questions in the lyrics. Write down the questions and discuss their purpose with a partner or write a short analysis on how the questions contribute to the meaning of the song.

Talking Points

  • Direct questions:
    • "Direct questions are used when you want to ask for specific information or a straightforward answer. For example, 'What time is the meeting?' or 'Did you finish your homework?'"
    • "Direct questions usually begin with question words like 'what,' 'when,' 'where,' 'why,' 'who,' or 'how.'"
    • "Direct questions often end with a question mark (?) and have a rising intonation."
  • Indirect questions:
    • "Indirect questions are used when you want to be more polite or less direct in your questioning. For example, 'I was wondering what time the meeting is?' or 'Could you tell me if you finished your homework?'"
    • "Indirect questions are formed by using phrases like 'I was wondering,' 'Could you tell me,' 'Do you know,' or 'Would you mind.'"
    • "Indirect questions often end with a period (.) and have a falling intonation."