Deutsche
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 if he has got a girlfriend? | Weißt du ob er eine Freundin hat? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Denkst du, die beiden kommen klar miteinander? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Es ist 7:30 Uhr! Wer meinst du könnte das sein? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Denkst du, du bist ein guter Koch? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Weißt du wie viel die Fahrscheine kosten? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Denkst du wirklich du möchtest das Problem lösen? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Denkst du wir sollten reservieren? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Wann denkst du, wirst du losgehen? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Denkst du wir können ihn rauslassen? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | Denkst du nicht, dass wir ein Haus für 1200 pro Monat finden können? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Kannst du mir bitte sagen wo es ist? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Wann denkst du wirst du dich wieder nach Häusern umsehen? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Wo können wir deiner Meinung nach ein Haus finden? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Nick, kannst du mir bitte sagen wie viel sie bezahlen? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Aber warum denkst du sollten wir das Haus verlassen? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Denkst du wir sollten uns das nächste Haus ansehen? |
| Do you think she is good? | Denkst du, dass sie gut ist? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Wer möchte das schon? Kannst du mir dann sagen, wo du leben möchtest? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Das ist Wahnsinn. Meinst du wir können die Preise verhandeln? |
