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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 | |
|---|---|
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sigo revisando, ¿crees que puedo probar algunos insectos aquí? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, ¿no crees que Diego también se nos podría unir? |
| How long do you think it will take? | ¿Cuánto tiempo cree que se tarde? |
| How much do you think there is? | ¿Cuánto crees que hay? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | ¿Cuánto crees que tardará en estar listo? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | ¿Crees que debería sacar a Pogo de su caja? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | ¿Crees que eso ayudará a que consigamos una mesa? |
| Do you know what time it is? | ¿Sabes qué hora es? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | ¿Sabes cómo van a llegar las chichas a Soho? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | ¿Sabes si tiene novia? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | ¿Dónde crees que podemos conseguir una casa? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | ¿No crees que es mejor vivir arriba? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | ¿Cuándo crees que irás a buscar casas otra vez? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | ¿Puedes decirme, Nick, cuánto pagan ellos? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | ¿Sabes los años que tiene esta estación? |
| Do you think she is good? | ¿Crees que sea buena? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | ¿Cuándo crees que podremos tener la reunión? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | Sí estoy lista, ¿crees que necesitaré una chaqueta? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Eso es de locos, ¿crees que podamos negociar los precios? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | ¿No crees que podamos conseguir una casa por 1200 al mes? |
