







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? | امم، ماذا تعتقدي انها قد تفعل بهم؟ |
| Do you know what time it is? | هل تعلمين ماهو الوقت الان؟ |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | هل تعلمين أين المطبخ؟ |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | هل تعلمى اذا ماكان لديه صديقة؟ |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | ألا تعتقد انه من الأفضل ان تعيش فى الاعلى؟ |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | متى تعتقدى انه يمكننا عمل الإجتماع؟ |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | لكن لماذا تعتقدين أنه يجب علينا مغادرة المنزل؟ |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | هل تعلمين ماهو لون العبوة؟ |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | هل يمكنك من فضلك ان تخبرنى اين هى؟ |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | ومن يريد؟ هل يمكنكِ إخباري أين تريدين أن تعيشي إذًا؟ |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | هل تعتقدى انه يمكننا ان نتركه يخرج؟ |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | نعم انا جاهزة, هل تعتقد أننى سأكون بحاجة الى معطف؟ |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | كم عدد الأشخاص تعتقدى انكِ ستقومين بالطهى لهم؟ |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | هل تعتقد ان هذه فكرة جيدة؟ |
| How long do you think it will take? | كم من الوقت تعتقد انه سوف يستغرق؟ |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | كم تعتقد سيكلفنا تأجير منزل؟ |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | هل تعلم ما هى تكلفة التذاكر؟ |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | هل تعتقد انه يجب علينا ان ندفع مقابل ذلك؟ |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | هل هذا يعني أنك ستطلب عمولة؟ |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | هل تعرفين كيف ستذهب الفتيات الى سوهو؟ |