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 what colour the packet is? | Sai di che colore è la confezione? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| How much do you think there is? | Quanto pensi ce ne sia? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | Non pensi che possiamo prendere una a casa per 1200 al mese? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Puoi dirmi dove mi porti prima? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Sai in che modo le ragazze vogliono arrivare a Soho? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, cosa pensi che potrebbe fare a loro? |
| 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 should buy it? | Pensi che dovremo comprarlo? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sto ancora guardando, pensi che posso provare qualche insetto qui? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hai un piano su cosa fare adesso? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Quando pensi che potremo fare il meeting? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Pensi che dovremo vedere la prossima casa? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Pensi di essere un buon cuoco? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Per quante persone pensi di dover cucinare? |
| 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 how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
