Français
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 think they are doing fine? | Tu penses qu'ils vont bien? |
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | Tu peux m’expliquer pourquoi on doit payer 30£ de plus par semaine? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hé, ne penses-tu pas que Diego voudrait nous rejoindre également ? |
| How much do you think there is? | Combien il y en a-t-il, à ton avis ? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Tu ne penses pas que c'ets mieux d'habiter à l'étage? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Ça veut dire que vous allez demander une espèce d'acompte? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Pour combien de personnes envisages-tu de cuisiner? |
| Do you think she is good? | Pensez-vous qu'elle soit bien ? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Tu penses qu'on peut le laisser sortir? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Saurais-tu quel âge a cette station? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Mais pense-tu que nous devrions quitter la maison ? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Tu penses que je devrais sortit Pogo de sa boîte? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Ouais, j'avais oublié ça, quand penses-tu qu'on peut se rencontrer du coup ? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Tu penses que c'est une bonne idée? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Tu sais pourquoi ils ont construit cette énorme jetée? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Penses-tu que nous allons la payer ? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | C'est fou, penses-tu qu'on peut négocier les prix ? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Peux-tu me dire où tu m'emmènes d'abord ? |
