Deutsche
In English, in more formal situations, we often use indirect questions because they sound more polite.
To make a question more polite we often begin with an indirect question phrase such as:
Example questions :
DIRECT QUESTION : Where is the post office?
INDIRECT QUESTION : Do you know where the post office is?
DIRECT QUESTION : What's the time?
INDIRECT QUESTION : Could you tell me what the time is?
DIRECT QUESTION : Does this train go to Brighton?
INDIRECT QUESTION : Can you tell me if this train goes to Brighton?
DIRECT QUESTION : Is there a bank nearby?
INDIRECT QUESTION : Have you any idea whether there is a bank nearby?
Note for use of indirect questions :
If the direct question begins with an auxiliary verb ( no question word), add 'if' or 'whether' after an indirect question phrase to make the question indirect.
We don't use 'if' or whether with Do you think...?
eg. Do you think he's gone to London? NOT Do you think if he's gone to London?
| Indirect question example sentences | |
|---|---|
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, denkst du nicht, dass Diego auch mitkommen möchte? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Denkst du, die beiden kommen klar miteinander? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Was meinst du wie viel es kosten würde ein Haus zu mieten? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Kannst du mir bitte sagen wo es ist? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Weißt du wie viel die Fahrscheine kosten? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Wo können wir deiner Meinung nach ein Haus finden? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Was meinst du, für wie viele Personen du kochen wirst? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Denkst du wir sollten ihn kaufen? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | Denkst du nicht, dass du dich etwas zu sehr aufregst? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Denkst du wir sollten uns das nächste Haus ansehen? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Denkst du nicht, dass er ein netter Kerl ist? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Denkst du wir sollten reservieren? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Kannst du mir dann sagen was du vor hast? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Ja, das habe ich vergessen. Wann sollten wir uns dann treffen? |
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | Kannst du mir bitte erklären weshalb wir £30 mehr pro Woche zahlen müssen? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Es ist 7:30 Uhr! Wer meinst du könnte das sein? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Weißt du wie spät es ist? |
