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 | |
|---|---|
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Qui le voudrait ? Peux-tu me dire où tu voudrais donc vivre ? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Tu ne crois pas que c'est un gentil gars ? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
| How much do you think there is? | Combien il y en a-t-il, à ton avis ? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | Tu sais où se trouve la cuisine? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Tu sais quelle heure il est? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Tu ne penses pas que c'ets mieux d'habiter à l'étage? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Penses-tu qu'on puisse en trouver là-bas? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Penses-tu qu'on devrait faire une réservation ? |
| 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? |
| 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? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quand pensez-vous partir ? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Tu pense qu'on devrait acheter les tickets de retour maintenant? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Penses-tu que ça nous aidera à avoir une table ? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Tu penses qu'on peut le laisser sortir? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Combien penses-tu qu'une location de maison coûterait ? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Mais pense-tu que nous devrions quitter la maison ? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hé, ne penses-tu pas que Diego voudrait nous rejoindre également ? |
