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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 | |
|---|---|
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | ¿Cuánto crees que cueste rentar una casa? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | ¿Sabes cuánto cuestan los billetes? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | ¿Cuánto crees que tardará en estar listo? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | ¿Crees que debería sacar a Pogo de su caja? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | ¿Eso significa que vas a pedir una comisión? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | ¿Sabes si tiene novia? |
| Do you know what time it is? | ¿Sabes qué hora es? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | ¿Pero por qué crees que deberíamos salirnos de la casa? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | ¿Crees que eres un buen cocinero? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | ¿Sabes cómo van a llegar las chichas a Soho? |
| How much do you think there is? | ¿Cuánto crees que hay? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, ¿qué crees que les podría hacer? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | ¿De verdad crees que quieres solucionar el problema? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | ¿Crees que deberíamos pagarlo? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | ¿Cuándo crees que podremos tener la reunión? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | ¿No crees que es mejor vivir arriba? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | ¿Sabes los años que tiene esta estación? |
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | ¿Podrías por favor explicarnos por qué nosotros tenemos que pagar £30 más por semana? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | ¿Crees que deberíamos comprarlo? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | ¿Dónde crees que podemos conseguir una casa? |
