Italiano
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? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Lo sai che ore sono? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, cosa pensi che potrebbe fare a loro? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Puoi dirmi che cosa hai in mente allora? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Dove pensi che possiamo trovare una casa? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Sai quanto costano i biglietti? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Ehi, non pensi che anche Diego vorrebbe unirsi a noi? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quando pensi di partire? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hai un piano su cosa fare adesso? |
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | Puoi spiegarmi perché dobbiamo pagare £ 30 di più a settimana per favore? |
| Do you think she is good? | Tu pensi sia brava? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | Non pensi che possiamo prendere una a casa per 1200 al mese? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | Sai dov’è la cucina? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Chi vorrebbe? Puoi dirmi allora dove vuoi vivere? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Pensi che dovremmo comprare i biglietti di ritorno adesso? |
| How much do you think there is? | Quanto pensi ce ne sia? |
