Français
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 | |
|---|---|
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | Tu peux m’expliquer pourquoi on doit payer 30£ de plus par semaine? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Penses-tu qu'on puisse en trouver là-bas? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quand est-ce que tu penses que tu vas en visiter d'autres? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Savez-vous comment les filles se rendent-elles à Soho ? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Tu penses que c'est une bonne idée? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Sais-tu de quelle couleur est l'emballage? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Il est 7h30, qui ça pourrait bien être? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Tu penses qu'on peut se voir quand? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hé, ne penses-tu pas que Diego voudrait nous rejoindre également ? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Où penses-tu que nous pourrions avoir une maison ? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Tu pense qu'on devrait visiter la prochaine maison? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Mais pense-tu que nous devrions quitter la maison ? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Tu sais s'il a une petite amie ? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Tu pense qu'on devrait acheter les tickets de retour maintenant? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Tu penses qu'on peut le laisser sortir? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Tu sais combien coûtent les tickets? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Pour combien de personnes envisages-tu de cuisiner? |
| How much do you think there is? | Combien il y en a-t-il, à ton avis ? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Ça veut dire que vous allez demander une espèce d'acompte? |
