Grammar · Free lesson
Could you tell me where the station is? Get the word order right
You need directions and want to ask someone for help. Adding Could you tell me makes a useful information request, but you also need to change the order of the question inside it.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Say “Could you tell me where the station is?” Inside the where clause, the station comes before is. Do not keep the direct-question order from “Where is the station?” after Could you tell me.
The opening asks the question. The inside clause uses subject–verb order.
In the direct question Where is the station?, is comes before the station. After Could you tell me, use where + the station + is. The inside part is often called an embedded question or a noun clause. The whole sentence is still a question, so it ends with a question mark.
Two ways to ask for the same information
Where is the station?
Could you tell me where the station is?
Keep where, but move the station before is. You are asking for the same location, not changing the time or the meaning.
Build the inside clause first
Find the subject and verb
The station is nearby.
Keep that subject–verb order
where the station is
Add the question opening
Could you tell me where the station is?
Try it now
Check the inside question.
Read all answers and explanations
Complete the request: “Could you tell me ___?”
where the station isThe inside clause needs the station before is. Where is the station keeps direct-question order; where the station leaves out the verb.
Choose the complete question about the café’s opening time.
Do you know when the café opens?The café opens has subject–verb order and the singular verb opens. Do not carry the direct question’s does into this clause, and do not lose the -s when does is removed.
Keep the Could you tell me opening and use the correct final punctuation.
Could you tell me where the station is?Could you tell me makes the complete sentence a question, so use a question mark. Its inside where clause still needs the station is.
Put it into practice
Repair the information request.
Keep Could you tell me and the question about the station’s location. Fix the inside word order.
Could you tell me where is the station?
See a model answer
Could you tell me where the station is?
The correction changes the inside order while preserving the location question and the polite opening.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
What happens to does in “When does the café open?”?
After Do you know, the inside clause becomes when the café opens. Remove the question helper does and give opens the ending it needs with the singular subject.
Do you know when the café opens?
Does every sentence with an inside question end with a question mark?
No. Look at the whole sentence. Could you tell me…? asks a question, but I know… states something. Both can contain where the station is.
I know where the station is.
Take it into your day
Use Could you tell me where the station is? The whole sentence asks a question, but the inside clause keeps subject–verb order.
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You have practiced one way to put an information clause inside a question. The English Grammar and English Speaking course includes noun clauses, with explanation, review, use and practice, within its broader grammar and speaking progression.
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