Lesson B1 · Intermediate Grammar

A First Visit to the Makerspace: Embedded Question Practice

Ask for missing practical information and report unanswered questions with accurate embedded word order.

9 min read 1,556 words Updated Oct 31, 2026

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B1 • About 28 minutes. Locate information missing from a notice. Build accurate embedded wh- and yes/no questions. Distinguish a direct request from a statement of uncertainty. Write a concise enquiry without changing the requested information.

Known: opening days/hours and induction requirement. Unknown: induction start/cost, locker location, materials. Outer request + inner statement order: Could you tell me [where the lockers are]? — Instructional visual. A selectable-text equivalent appears in the resource.

Read the welcome notice

Welcome to Bridge Makerspace. This fictional public workshop is open to adult visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00. First-time visitors must attend an induction before using the shared tools. Inductions take place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. You can book an induction through the reception team, but this notice does not give the starting time, price or booking deadline. The reception desk is beside the main entrance. Small personal bags can be stored in lockers during a visit. The notice does not say where the lockers are or whether visitors need a coin. Basic hand tools are available after induction. Some specialist equipment requires an additional session with a staff member. Please ask reception which staff member leads those sessions and how to book. Bring a notebook if you want to record your project ideas. The notice does not confirm whether materials are included or whether you may bring your own. These are useful questions for a first enquiry. All arrangements in this lesson are fictional.

Known details: adult visitors; Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–18:00; induction required before shared-tool use; induction days Wednesday and Saturday; reception beside the main entrance. Missing details include induction start time, cost and deadline; locker location and coin requirement; specialist-session leader; materials arrangements.

Ask about a real information gap

Before writing, cross out questions that the notice already answers. Asking “Are you open on Saturdays?” would repeat a known detail. Asking “Could you tell me what time the Saturday induction starts?” targets a missing detail. A useful enquiry is clear about both the grammar and the information it needs.

Build two boxes for each sentence: the outer request or statement, and the embedded content. For example, [Could you tell me] [whether the induction costs anything]? Remove does from the inner clause and use costs. For [I wonder] [where the lockers are], ordinary writing ends with a full stop because the outer sentence is a statement.

Known or still unknown?

Use only the notice. Do not invent practical arrangements.

Answer on paper, then open the explanations below. Enable JavaScript to check answers here.

1 Which detail is already supplied?

Choose one answer.

General opening hours The induction price The locker location

Answer and explanation

General opening hours

The notice gives Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–18:00. It explicitly withholds the price and locker location.

2 Which question asks for a missing induction detail?

Choose one answer.

Is an induction required before shared-tool use? What time does the Saturday induction start?

Answer and explanation

What time does the Saturday induction start?

The start time is missing. The requirement to attend induction is already stated.

3 Does the notice confirm that materials are included?

Choose one answer.

No; that detail is not confirmed. Yes; every material is free.

Answer and explanation

No; that detail is not confirmed.

The notice explicitly leaves the materials arrangement open. Free materials would be an invented claim.

Build wh-question requests

Use statement order inside each request.

Answer on paper, then open the explanations below. Enable JavaScript to check answers here.

4 Correct: “Could you tell me where are the lockers?” Your answer

Answer and explanation

Could you tell me where the lockers are?

Also accepted: Could you tell me where the lockers are

The inner subject the lockers goes before are. The outer request keeps the final question mark.

5 Complete with the present-simple form of start: “Do you know what time the Saturday induction ___?” Your answer

Answer and explanation

starts

The inner clause uses present simple with singular induction: starts. Do not leave does inside it.

6 Choose the accurate question about booking.

Choose one answer.

Could you tell me how can I book a specialist session? Could you tell me how I can book a specialist session?

Answer and explanation

Could you tell me how I can book a specialist session?

The inner modal follows its subject: I can. The outer Could you tell me already supplies question order.

7 Choose the question about the staff member responsible.

Choose one answer.

Do you know who leads the specialist sessions? Do you know who does leads the specialist sessions?

Answer and explanation

Do you know who leads the specialist sessions?

Who is the subject of leads, so no extra do-auxiliary is needed.

8 Complete with the present-simple form of be: “Could you tell me when the booking deadline ___?” Your answer

Answer and explanation

The embedded clause uses the booking deadline is, preserving statement order.

Ask yes/no questions indirectly

Use if or whether where both are possible. Keep the outer purpose clear.

Answer on paper, then open the explanations below. Enable JavaScript to check answers here.

9 Complete: “Could you tell me ___ the induction costs anything?” Your answer

Answer and explanation

Also accepted: whether

If and whether both introduce this ordinary yes/no clause. Costs carries singular agreement.

10 Complete: “I am not sure ___ visitors need a coin for the lockers.” Your answer

Answer and explanation

whether

Also accepted: if

This statement of uncertainty permits whether or if. It does not imply that a coin is required.

11 Choose the accurate question about materials.

Choose one answer.

Do you know whether are materials included? Do you know whether materials are included?

Answer and explanation

Do you know whether materials are included?

The embedded subject materials precedes are. The question preserves the missing yes/no detail.

12 Choose the form before an infinitive.

Choose one answer.

I am deciding whether to bring my own materials. I am deciding if to bring my own materials.

Answer and explanation

I am deciding whether to bring my own materials.

Whether is used before to bring. If cannot replace it in this frame.

Edit the enquiry

Repair inner order, verb form or ordinary punctuation.

Answer on paper, then open the explanations below. Enable JavaScript to check answers here.

13 Correct: “Could you tell me when does the induction start?” Your answer

Answer and explanation

Could you tell me when the induction starts?

Also accepted: Could you tell me when the induction starts

Remove the inner does and put the singular ending on starts. The outer sentence remains a question.

14 Correct: “I wonder where is the reception desk.” Your answer

Answer and explanation

I wonder where the reception desk is.

Also accepted: I wonder where the reception desk is

The embedded clause uses the reception desk is. The outer I wonder is a statement, so use a full stop.

15 Choose ordinary punctuation for a request.

Choose one answer.

Could you tell me whether I can bring materials. Could you tell me whether I can bring materials?

Answer and explanation

Could you tell me whether I can bring materials?

The outer request is interrogative. A question mark belongs at the end even though the inner clause has statement order.

16 Choose the accurate correction, preserving the present-simple meaning: “Do you know whether does the induction cost anything?”

Choose one answer.

Do you know whether the induction costs anything? Do you know whether the induction cost anything?

Answer and explanation

Do you know whether the induction costs anything?

Removing does requires costs in the present-simple inner clause. The correct answer preserves tense and agreement.

Write, compare and revise

Your turn · self-review

Independent writing

Write your own response first, then compare the model and use the self-review checklist below. The model is one possible answer, not a script to copy.

Practice only. Your writing stays on this page; it is not submitted or saved.

1Write a 70–90-word enquiry to reception. Include three distinct embedded questions about missing details and one statement of uncertainty. Do not ask again for the general opening hours. Keep the message about the fictional notice; do not include real personal data.
Model answer and explanation
Hello, I would like to attend a Saturday induction before using the shared tools. Could you tell me what time the induction starts? Do you know whether it costs anything? Could you also tell me where the lockers are? I am not sure whether I need to bring my own materials. I have read that reception handles bookings, and I will check the booking arrangements before planning my visit. Thank you for helping me prepare for my first session.

Self-review and transfer

The model has three outer questions and one I am not sure statement. Each inner clause uses statement order. The start time, cost, locker location and materials arrangement are genuine gaps. For optional pair practice, one person asks a question and the other says “That detail is not in the notice; please ask reception.” Do not invent an answer merely to keep the conversation moving. Check outer purpose, inner subject, verb form and final punctuation.

Companion resource: Embedded Questions: Do You Know Where It Is?.

Related references for further study: When Game Instructions Are Unclear; Photography Club: A2 Ability and Permission Listening.