Deutsche
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 why they built this enormous pier? | Weißt du, warum sie diese enorme Seebrücke gebaut haben? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Meinst du wir sollten uns jetzt schon die Fahrscheine für den Rückweg kaufen? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Weißt du wie spät es ist? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Denkst du wir sollten ihn kaufen? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Denkst du die Idee ist gut? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Denkst du wir sollten uns das nächste Haus ansehen? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Weißt du wie viel die Fahrscheine kosten? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Wann denkst du, wirst du losgehen? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hast du schon einen Idee was du jetzt machen wirst? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Kannst du mir bitte sagen wo es ist? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | Denkst du nicht, dass du dich etwas zu sehr aufregst? |
| How much do you think there is? | Was meinst du, wie viel noch übrig ist? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Denkst du wir können ihn rauslassen? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | Ja, ich bin bereit. Denkst du, dass ich eine Jacke brauchen werde? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Das ist Wahnsinn. Meinst du wir können die Preise verhandeln? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Weißt du welche Farbe die Verpackung hat? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Denkst du wir sollten dafür zahlen? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist? |
