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 | |
|---|---|
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Hum, tu penses qu'elle peut leur faire quoi? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | C'est fou, penses-tu qu'on peut négocier les prix ? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | Tu penses être un bon cuisinier? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Tu sais pourquoi ils ont construit cette énorme jetée? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Tu penses qu'on peut le laisser sortir? |
| 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 ? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Penses-tu que ça nous aidera à avoir une table ? |
| 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. |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Où penses-tu que nous pourrions avoir une maison ? |
| How long do you think it will take? | Combien de temps cela prendra-t-il ? |
| Do you really think you want to solve the problem? | Tu penses vraiment régler le problème? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | Combien penses-tu qu'une location de maison coûterait ? |
| 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 it's better to live upstairs? | Tu ne penses pas que c'ets mieux d'habiter à l'étage? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Je suis encore entrain de regarder, penses-tu que je peux essayer quelques insectes ici ? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Saurais-tu quel âge a cette station? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Tu sais s'il a une petite amie ? |
| Do you think we should make a reservation? | Penses-tu qu'on devrait faire une réservation ? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Penses-tu que nous devrions l'acheter? |
