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 think we should buy the return tickets now? | Meinst du wir sollten uns jetzt schon die Fahrscheine für den Rückweg kaufen? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hast du schon einen Idee was du jetzt machen wirst? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, denkst du nicht, dass Diego auch mitkommen möchte? |
| 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? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Denkst du nicht, dass er ein netter Kerl ist? |
| 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? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Es ist 7:30 Uhr! Wer meinst du könnte das sein? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Kannst du mir zuerst sagen, wohin du mich bringst? |
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | Kannst du mir bitte erklären weshalb wir £30 mehr pro Woche zahlen müssen? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Denkst du nicht, dass es besser ist oben zu wohnen? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Weißt du wie alt dieser Bahnhof ist? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Kannst du mir dann sagen was du vor hast? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Was meinst du wie viel es kosten würde ein Haus zu mieten? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Denkst du wir sollten uns das nächste Haus ansehen? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Weißt du, warum sie diese enorme Seebrücke gebaut haben? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Das ist Wahnsinn. Meinst du wir können die Preise verhandeln? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Denkst du wir sollten ihn kaufen? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Bedeutet das, dass du eine Provision verlangst? |
