







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 many people do you think you are going to cook for? | На сколько человек ты рассчитываешь приготовить? |
| How much do you think there is? | Сколько его, как ты думаешь? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Ты знаешь, есть ли у него девушка? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Думаешь, нам стоит осмотреть следующий дом? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Думаешь, нам стоит его купить? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Я еще изучаю, как думаешь, я могу попробовать здесь жуков? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Ты знаешь, почему они построили этот грандиозный пирс? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Пожалуйста, можешь сказать, где оно? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | А ты не думаешь, что лучше жить наверху? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Не знаешь, как давно оно построено? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Разве ты не думаешь, что он хороший парень? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Ник, не мог бы ты сказать, пожалуйста, как много они платят? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Ты знаешь, сколько стоят билеты? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Думаешь, мы сможем там его найти? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Ты знаешь, который час? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Где, как ты думаешь, мы могли бы арендовать дом? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | Ты не считаешь, что слишком уж разозлился? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Думаешь, с ними все нормально? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Когда ты думаешь искать жилье опять? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | У тебя есть план, что ты будешь теперь делать? |