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 know how old this station is? | Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Wann denkst du, wirst du losgehen? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Weißt du wie spät es ist? |
| 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 we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Bedeutet das, dass du eine Provision verlangst? |
| 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 can let him go out? | Denkst du wir können ihn rauslassen? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | Denkst du nicht, dass wir ein Haus für 1200 pro Monat finden können? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Ähm, was meinst du könnte sie ihnen antun? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Kannst du mir bitte sagen wo es ist? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Wie lange denkst du, wird es dauern, bis er fertig ist? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Denkst du wir sollten dafür zahlen? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Nick, kannst du mir bitte sagen wie viel sie bezahlen? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Wo können wir deiner Meinung nach ein Haus finden? |
| 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? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, denkst du nicht, dass Diego auch mitkommen möchte? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Denkst du nicht, dass es besser ist oben zu wohnen? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Es ist 7:30 Uhr! Wer meinst du könnte das sein? |
