Français
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 | |
|---|---|
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | Tu peux m’expliquer pourquoi on doit payer 30£ de plus par semaine? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Tu penses que je devrais sortit Pogo de sa boîte? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Tu peux me dire où elle est? |
| Do you think she is good? | Pensez-vous qu'elle soit bien ? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quand pensez-vous partir ? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Tu penses que c'est une bonne idée? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Tu pense qu'on devrait visiter la prochaine maison? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Tu ne penses pas que c'ets mieux d'habiter à l'étage? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Tu penses être un bon cuisinier? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quand est-ce que tu penses que tu vas en visiter d'autres? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Mais pense-tu que nous devrions quitter la maison ? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Tu peux me dire combien ils payent, Nick, s'il te plaît? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Tu penses qu'ils vont bien? |
| How much do you think there is? | Combien il y en a-t-il, à ton avis ? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Peux-tu me dire ce que tu prévois de faire du coup ? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Tu sais combien coûtent les tickets? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Pour combien de personnes envisages-tu de cuisiner? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Saurais-tu quel âge a cette station? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Savez-vous comment les filles se rendent-elles à Soho ? |
