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 | |
|---|---|
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | Hé, ne penses-tu pas que Diego voudrait nous rejoindre également ? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Peux-tu me dire ce que tu prévois de faire du coup ? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Tu penses que ça sera prêt dans combien de temps? |
| 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? |
| How long do you think it will take? | Combien de temps cela prendra-t-il ? |
| 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? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Tu sais pourquoi ils ont construit cette énorme jetée? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Penses-tu qu'on puisse en trouver là-bas? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Penses-tu que ça nous aidera à avoir une table ? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Peux-tu me dire où tu m'emmènes d'abord ? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Tu sais combien coûtent les tickets? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Tu penses qu'on peut le laisser sortir? |
| Do you think we should pay for it? | Penses-tu que nous allons la payer ? |
| 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 we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Saurais-tu quel âge a cette station? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | Tu penses qu'ils vont bien? |
| 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. |
