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 | |
|---|---|
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Denkst du, du bist ein guter Koch? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Weißt du wie die Mädels nach Soho kommen? |
| 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 I should take Pogo out of his box? | Meinst du ich sollte Pogo aus seiner Box nehmen? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Es ist 7:30 Uhr! Wer meinst du könnte das sein? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Ja, das habe ich vergessen. Wann sollten wir uns dann treffen? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Weißt du ob er eine Freundin hat? |
| 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? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Kannst du mir bitte sagen wo es ist? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Denkst du wir sollten reservieren? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Weißt du wie viel die Fahrscheine kosten? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Denkst du, die beiden kommen klar miteinander? |
| Do you think she is good? | Denkst du, dass sie gut ist? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Wer möchte das schon? Kannst du mir dann sagen, wo du leben möchtest? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Weißt du wie spät es ist? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Das ist Wahnsinn. Meinst du wir können die Preise verhandeln? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen? |
