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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 | |
|---|---|
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | ¡Son las siete y media! ¿Quién crees que pueda ser? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | ¿Crees que eso ayudará a que consigamos una mesa? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | ¿Crees que podemos dejarlo salir? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | ¿A qué hora crees que saldrás? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | ¿Tienes un plan sobre qué vas a hacer ahora? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | ¿Sabes cuánto cuestan los billetes? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | ¿Eso significa que vas a pedir una comisión? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | ¿Sabes de qué color es el paquete? |
| Do you know what time it is? | ¿Sabes qué hora es? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | ¿Sabes dónde está la cocina? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | ¿Sabés por qué construyeron este enorme muelle? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Cierto, olvidé eso, ¿entonces a qué hora crees que nos podamos reunir? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | ¿Crees que debería sacar a Pogo de su caja? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | ¿No te parece que es un buen tipo? |
| How much do you think there is? | ¿Cuánto crees que hay? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | ¿Cuándo crees que podremos tener la reunión? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | ¿No crees que te estás enfadando demasiado? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | ¿Sabes cómo van a llegar las chichas a Soho? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | ¿Crees que deberíamos comprarlo? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | ¿Para cuántas personas crees que vas a cocinar? |
