







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 | |
|---|---|
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | 你打算什么时候再去找房子? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | 是的,我准备好了,你觉得我需要一件外套吗? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | 你觉得我们能让它出去吗? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | 额,你觉得她会对他们做什么呢? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | 你觉得这会帮助我们得到一个桌子吗? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | 租一个房子你觉得要花多少钱? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | 你觉得我们应该买吗? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | 但是你觉得为什么我们要离开房子? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | 尼克,请告诉我,他们付多少呢? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | 接下来要做什么你有什么计划吗? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | 你觉得我们可以在哪里租到一个房子? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | 你知道他们为什么建造了这样一个巨大的码头吗? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | 你觉得什么时间可以出发? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | 你能告诉我它在哪里吗? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | 谁想啊?那么你能告诉我你想住哪里吗? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | 你觉得你要做给几个人吃? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | 你知道车票多少钱吗? |
| Do you think she is good? | 你认为她很棒吗? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | 你觉得我们现在应当购买返程票吗? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | 是啊,我忘了这个,那么你觉得几点见面好呢? |