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 I should take Pogo out of his box? | Meinst du ich sollte Pogo aus seiner Box nehmen? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Kannst du mir dann sagen was du vor hast? |
| 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? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Wann denkst du wirst du dich wieder nach Häusern umsehen? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Weißt du wie die Mädels nach Soho kommen? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Ja, das habe ich vergessen. Wann sollten wir uns dann treffen? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Denkst du, wir können das dort finden? |
| 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? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Was meinst du wie viel es kosten würde ein Haus zu mieten? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hast du schon einen Idee was du jetzt machen wirst? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Weißt du, warum sie diese enorme Seebrücke gebaut haben? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Denkst du wirklich du möchtest das Problem lösen? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, denkst du nicht, dass Diego auch mitkommen möchte? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Denkst du wir sollten ihn kaufen? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Weißt du wie viel die Fahrscheine kosten? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Kannst du mir zuerst sagen, wohin du mich bringst? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Wann denkst du, können wir uns treffen? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Ähm, was meinst du könnte sie ihnen antun? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Ich schaue immer noch. Denkst du ich kann hier ein paar Käfer ausprobieren? |
