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 | |
|---|---|
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | Sai dov’è la cucina? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Quando pensi che potremo fare il meeting? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Puoi dirmi, Nick, quanto pagano, per favore? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quando pensi di partire? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Non pensi sia un bravo ragazzo? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Pensi che possiamo farlo uscire? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Pensi che dovremo pagarlo? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Pensi che possiamo trovarlo là? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Lo sai che ore sono? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sto ancora guardando, pensi che posso provare qualche insetto qui? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Puoi dirmi che cosa hai in mente allora? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Per quante persone pensi di dover cucinare? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Mi dici per favore dov’è? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Pensi che sia una buona idea? |
