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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 how the girls are getting to Soho? | ¿Sabes cómo van a llegar las chichas a Soho? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | ¿Puedes decirme, Nick, cuánto pagan ellos? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | ¿Sabes los años que tiene esta estación? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | ¿Crees que eres un buen cocinero? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | ¡Son las siete y media! ¿Quién crees que pueda ser? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | ¿No crees que es mejor vivir arriba? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | ¿Crees que deberíamos ver la siguiente casa? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | ¿Crees que deberíamos comprarlo? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | ¿Dónde crees que podemos conseguir una casa? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | ¿Puedes primero decirme a dónde me vas a llevar? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | ¿Sabes si tiene novia? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | ¿Pero por qué crees que deberíamos salirnos de la casa? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | ¿Puedes decirme por favor dónde está? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | ¿No crees que te estás enfadando demasiado? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | ¿Para cuántas personas crees que vas a cocinar? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | ¿No te parece que es un buen tipo? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | ¿Quién sí? ¿Puedes decirme entonces dónde te gustaría vivir? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | ¿Cuánto crees que cueste rentar una casa? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | ¿Crees que podemos encontrarlo allí? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | ¿Crees que van a llevarse bien? |
