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Indirect question Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 1 minute

Form : ( Indirect question phrase + question word / if / whether + subject + verb )

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:

Could you tell me...?
Do you know...?
Have you any idea...?
Can you tell me...?

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
Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please?	请解释下为什么我们每周必须要多付30英镑？
When do you think you will be leaving?	你觉得什么时间可以出发？
Do you think it's a good idea?	你认为是个好主意吗？
When do you think you are going to look for houses again?	你打算什么时候再去找房子？
Can you please tell me where it is?	你能告诉我它在哪里吗？
Don't you think it's better to live upstairs?	你不觉得住在楼上更好吗？
Do you know what time it is?	你知道现在几点了吗？
Do you know how old this station is?	你知道这个车站有多少年的历史了吗？
When do you think we can have the meeting?	你觉得我们什么时间可以开会？
Do you think we should buy it?	你觉得我们应该买吗？
Do you think we can let him go out?	你觉得我们能让它出去吗？
Do you think she is good?	你认为她很棒吗？
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 know what colour the packet is?	你知道包装是什么颜色吗？
How long do you think it will take?	你觉得会议会持续多长时间？
Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho?	你知道女孩们怎么去苏豪区吗？
Don't you think he is a nice guy?	你不觉得他很不错吗？
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 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？
That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices?	太疯狂了，你觉得我们可以讨价还价吗？

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