Português
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 | |
|---|---|
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, o que você acha que ela pode fazer a eles? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Quem quer? Pode me dizer onde você quer viver, então? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Quando acha que podemos fazer a reunião? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quando você pensa que vai procurar casas novamente? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | Não acha que está a ficar demasiado irritado? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Quanto acha que custa alugar uma casa? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Isso é de loucos, você acha que podemos negociar os preços? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Pode então dizer o que planeja fazer? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sabe quantos anos tem esta estação? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Você acha que isso vai nos ajudar a conseguir uma mesa? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Você sabe se ele tem uma namorada? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | São sete e meia! Quem pensa que poderá ser? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Você quer realmente resolver o problema? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Você sabe como as meninas vão para Soho? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Você acha que devíamos fazer uma reserva? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Para quantas pessoas você acha que vai cozinhar? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Achas que eles estão se dando bem? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Acha que podemos deixá-lo sair? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Você sabe por que construíram este cais enorme? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Não acha que é melhor viver no piso de cima? |
