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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 | |
|---|---|
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | ¿No crees que es mejor vivir arriba? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | ¿Sabes dónde está la cocina? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | ¿Sabes los años que tiene esta estación? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | ¿Puedes decirme, Nick, cuánto pagan ellos? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | ¿Tienes un plan sobre qué vas a hacer ahora? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | ¿Crees que deberíamos ver la siguiente casa? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | ¿Crees que podemos dejarlo salir? |
| Do you think she is good? | ¿Crees que sea buena? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sigo revisando, ¿crees que puedo probar algunos insectos aquí? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | ¿Crees que van a llevarse bien? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Cierto, olvidé eso, ¿entonces a qué hora crees que nos podamos reunir? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | ¿Crees que eres un buen cocinero? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | ¿Puedes decirme qué estás planeando, entonces? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | ¡Son las siete y media! ¿Quién crees que pueda ser? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | ¿Sabes cómo van a llegar las chichas a Soho? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, ¿qué crees que les podría hacer? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | ¿Crees que eso ayudará a que consigamos una mesa? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | ¿Cuándo crees que irás a buscar casas otra vez? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | ¿Crees que deberíamos pagarlo? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | ¿Sabes cuánto cuestan los billetes? |
