Italiano
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 see the next house? | Pensi che dovremo vedere la prossima casa? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | Mi dici per favore dov’è? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | Pensi che possiamo farlo uscire? |
| Can you tell me what you are planning then? | Puoi dirmi che cosa hai in mente allora? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Pensi che ci aiuterà ad avere un tavolo? |
| That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices? | È una pazzia, pensi che possiamo trattare sui prezzi? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | Pensi che possiamo trovarlo là? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Sai in che modo le ragazze vogliono arrivare a Soho? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hai un piano su cosa fare adesso? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | Quando pensi che potremo fare il meeting? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | Sai perché hanno costruito questo molo enorme? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | Si sono pronta, pensi che mi servirà una giacca? |
| Do you know where the kitchen is? | Sai dov’è la cucina? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| How much do you think there is? | Quanto pensi ce ne sia? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Sai se ha una ragazza? |
| Do you think she is good? | Tu pensi sia brava? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, cosa pensi che potrebbe fare a loro? |
