Italiano
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 think it will help us get a table? | Pensi che ci aiuterà ad avere un tavolo? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sto ancora guardando, pensi che posso provare qualche insetto qui? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Quanto pensi che costerebbe affittare una casa? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Pensi che possiamo trovarlo là? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Pensi che dovremmo comprare i biglietti di ritorno adesso? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Pensi di essere un buon cuoco? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Puoi dirmi, Nick, quanto pagano, per favore? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | Sai dov’è la cucina? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quando pensi di cercare nuovamente delle case? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Non pensi sia un bravo ragazzo? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Ehi, non pensi che anche Diego vorrebbe unirsi a noi? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Pensi che possiamo farlo uscire? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Lo sai che ore sono? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Pensi davvero che vuoi risolvere il problema? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Pensi che dovremo vedere la prossima casa? |
