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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 think they are doing fine? | ¿Crees que van a llevarse bien? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | ¿Crees que deberíamos comprarlo? |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | ¡Son las siete y media! ¿Quién crees que pueda ser? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hey, ¿no crees que Diego también se nos podría unir? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, ¿qué crees que les podría hacer? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | ¿Puedes decirme por favor dónde está? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | ¿Sabes cómo van a llegar las chichas a Soho? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | ¿Cuándo crees que podremos tener la reunión? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | ¿De verdad crees que quieres solucionar el problema? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | ¿Puedes primero decirme a dónde me vas a llevar? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | ¿Puedes decirme, Nick, cuánto pagan ellos? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | Eso es de locos, ¿crees que podamos negociar los precios? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | ¿No crees que podamos conseguir una casa por 1200 al mes? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | ¿Sabes los años que tiene esta estación? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | ¿Para cuántas personas crees que vas a cocinar? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | ¿Crees que podemos encontrarlo allí? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | ¿Crees que deberíamos comprar los billetes de vuelta ahora? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | ¿Sabes cuánto cuestan los billetes? |
| Do you think she is good? | ¿Crees que sea buena? |
| Do you know what time it is? | ¿Sabes qué hora es? |
