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 really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Tu pense qu'on devrait acheter les tickets de retour maintenant? |
| 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 I should take Pogo out of his box? | Tu penses que je devrais sortit Pogo de sa boîte? |
| 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 know what time it is? | Tu sais quelle heure il est? |
| 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? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Peux-tu me dire ce que tu prévois de faire du coup ? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Qui le voudrait ? Peux-tu me dire où tu voudrais donc vivre ? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Mais pense-tu que nous devrions quitter la maison ? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Ouais, j'avais oublié ça, quand penses-tu qu'on peut se rencontrer du coup ? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Tu sais combien coûtent les tickets? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Combien penses-tu qu'une location de maison coûterait ? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Tu penses que c'est une bonne idée? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Est-ce qu'il te reste un plan pour la suite? |
| Don't you think you are getting a bit too angry? | Tu ne penses pas que tu es un peu trop en colère? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Sais-tu de quelle couleur est l'emballage? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Peux-tu me dire où tu m'emmènes d'abord ? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Tu penses que ça sera prêt dans combien de temps? |
