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 I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Sai quanto costano i biglietti? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Sai in che modo le ragazze vogliono arrivare a Soho? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Pensi di essere un buon cuoco? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hai un piano su cosa fare adesso? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Puoi dirmi dove mi porti prima? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Sai se ha una ragazza? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Puoi dirmi che cosa hai in mente allora? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Pensi che dovremo pagarlo? |
| 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 renting a house would cost? | Quanto pensi che costerebbe affittare una casa? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Non pensi sia un bravo ragazzo? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Pensi che sia una buona idea? |
| How much do you think there is? | Quanto pensi ce ne sia? |
| 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 long do you think it will take? | Quanto tempo pensi ci vorrà? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Pensi che ci aiuterà ad avere un tavolo? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Ehi, non pensi che anche Diego vorrebbe unirsi a noi? |
