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 know why they built this enormous pier? | Sai perché hanno costruito questo molo enorme? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Pensi che possiamo farlo uscire? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | Sai dov’è la cucina? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Per quante persone pensi di dover cucinare? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Sai di che colore è la confezione? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Pensi che dovremo comprarlo? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Dove pensi che possiamo trovare una casa? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Pensi che dovremo vedere la prossima casa? |
| How long do you think it will take? | Quanto tempo pensi ci vorrà? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Non pensi sia un bravo ragazzo? |
| How much do you think there is? | Quanto pensi ce ne sia? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Ehi, non pensi che anche Diego vorrebbe unirsi a noi? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hai un piano su cosa fare adesso? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Sono le 7:30! Chi pensi possa essere? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Sai quanto costano i biglietti? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Pensi che dovremo pagarlo? |
