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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 how the girls are getting to Soho? | Weißt du wie die Mädels nach Soho kommen? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Was meinst du wie viel es kosten würde ein Haus zu mieten? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Denkst du das wird helfen einen Tisch zu bekommen? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, denkst du nicht, dass Diego auch mitkommen möchte? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| 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? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | Denkst du nicht, dass du dich etwas zu sehr aufregst? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Wo können wir deiner Meinung nach ein Haus finden? |
| How much do you think there is? | Was meinst du, wie viel noch übrig ist? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Denkst du, die beiden kommen klar miteinander? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Kannst du mir bitte sagen wo es ist? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Nick, kannst du mir bitte sagen wie viel sie bezahlen? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Denkst du, du bist ein guter Koch? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | Ja, ich bin bereit. Denkst du, dass ich eine Jacke brauchen werde? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Weißt du ob er eine Freundin hat? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Weißt du wie viel die Fahrscheine kosten? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Was meinst du, für wie viele Personen du kochen wirst? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Aber warum denkst du sollten wir das Haus verlassen? |
