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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 | |
|---|---|
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | ¿No crees que es mejor vivir arriba? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | ¿Sabés por qué construyeron este enorme muelle? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | ¿Sabes los años que tiene esta estación? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | ¿Sabes si tiene novia? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | ¿Quién sí? ¿Puedes decirme entonces dónde te gustaría vivir? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | ¿No te parece que es un buen tipo? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | ¿Sabes cuánto cuestan los billetes? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | ¿Cuándo crees que irás a buscar casas otra vez? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | ¿Puedes decirme, Nick, cuánto pagan ellos? |
| How long do you think it will take? | ¿Cuánto tiempo cree que se tarde? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | ¿Crees que deberíamos ver la siguiente casa? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | ¿Dónde crees que podemos conseguir una casa? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | ¿Puedes decirme por favor dónde está? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | ¿Crees que deberíamos comprar los billetes de vuelta ahora? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | ¿Sabes de qué color es el paquete? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sigo revisando, ¿crees que puedo probar algunos insectos aquí? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | ¿Tienes un plan sobre qué vas a hacer ahora? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | ¿Crees que van a llevarse bien? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | ¿Crees que eso ayudará a que consigamos una mesa? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Eso es de locos, ¿crees que podamos negociar los precios? |
