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 | |
|---|---|
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Ehi, non pensi che anche Diego vorrebbe unirsi a noi? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | Si sono pronta, pensi che mi servirà una giacca? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Sai se ha una ragazza? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Sai quanto costano i biglietti? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Puoi dirmi, Nick, quanto pagano, per favore? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Pensi che sia una buona idea? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Pensi di essere un buon cuoco? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quando pensi di cercare nuovamente delle case? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Chi vorrebbe? Puoi dirmi allora dove vuoi vivere? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Mi dici per favore dov’è? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Pensi che dovremo comprarlo? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Pensi che dovremo pagarlo? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quando pensi di partire? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Pensi che possiamo trovarlo là? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | È una pazzia, pensi che possiamo trattare sui prezzi? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sto ancora guardando, pensi che posso provare qualche insetto qui? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Per quante persone pensi di dover cucinare? |
| How long do you think it will take? | Quanto tempo pensi ci vorrà? |
