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 have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hast du schon einen Idee was du jetzt machen wirst? |
| 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? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Meinst du ich sollte Pogo aus seiner Box nehmen? |
| Do you think she is good? | Denkst du, dass sie gut ist? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Es ist 7:30 Uhr! Wer meinst du könnte das sein? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Kannst du mir dann sagen was du vor hast? |
| How much do you think there is? | Was meinst du, wie viel noch übrig ist? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Bedeutet das, dass du eine Provision verlangst? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Ja, das habe ich vergessen. Wann sollten wir uns dann treffen? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Denkst du nicht, dass es besser ist oben zu wohnen? |
| 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? |
| How long do you think it will take? | Wie lange denkst du, wird das dauern? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Ähm, was meinst du könnte sie ihnen antun? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Wann denkst du wirst du dich wieder nach Häusern umsehen? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Weißt du wie spät es ist? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Denkst du wirklich du möchtest das Problem lösen? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Weißt du ob er eine Freundin hat? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Das ist Wahnsinn. Meinst du wir können die Preise verhandeln? |
