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's a good idea? | Pensi che sia una buona idea? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Sai perché hanno costruito questo molo enorme? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, cosa pensi che potrebbe fare a loro? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Pensi che ci aiuterà ad avere un tavolo? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Pensi che dovremmo comprare i biglietti di ritorno adesso? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Lo sai che ore sono? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quando pensi di cercare nuovamente delle case? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Puoi dirmi che cosa hai in mente allora? |
| How long do you think it will take? | Quanto tempo pensi ci vorrà? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Quando pensi che potremo fare il meeting? |
| Do you think she is good? | Tu pensi sia brava? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Per quante persone pensi di dover cucinare? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Significa che chiederai una commissione? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Non pensi sia un bravo ragazzo? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Pensi che dovremmo prenotare? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Sai quanto costano i biglietti? |
| 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 I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
