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 | |
|---|---|
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Penses-tu qu'on devrait faire une réservation ? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quand pensez-vous partir ? |
| Does it mean you are going to ask for some commission? | Ça veut dire que vous allez demander une espèce d'acompte? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Sais-tu de quelle couleur est l'emballage? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Peux-tu me dire ce que tu prévois de faire du coup ? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Tu penses que je devrais sortit Pogo de sa boîte? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | Ne penses-tu pas que nous pourrions avoir une maison pour 1200 par mois. |
| It's seven thirty! Who do you think it could be? | Il est 7h30, qui ça pourrait bien être? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Est-ce qu'il te reste un plan pour la suite? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Tu penses être un bon cuisinier? |
| How many people do you think you are going to cook for? | Pour combien de personnes envisages-tu de cuisiner? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Tu penses qu'on peut se voir quand? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Tu sais combien coûtent les tickets? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Tu sais quelle heure il est? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Penses-tu qu'on puisse en trouver là-bas? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | Tu peux me dire combien ils payent, Nick, s'il te plaît? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Tu penses qu'on peut le laisser sortir? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Tu pense qu'on devrait visiter la prochaine maison? |
