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 pay for it? | Pensi che dovremo pagarlo? |
| Do you know what time it is? | Lo sai che ore sono? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | Sai quanto è vecchia questa stazione? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | Pensi che sia una buona idea? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quando pensi di partire? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | Pensi che dovremo vedere la prossima casa? |
| Can you tell me where you are taking me first? | Puoi dirmi dove mi porti prima? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Sai di che colore è la confezione? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Chi vorrebbe? Puoi dirmi allora dove vuoi vivere? |
| Do you have a plan about what you are going to do now? | Hai un piano su cosa fare adesso? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | Sai in che modo le ragazze vogliono arrivare a Soho? |
| Do you think we should buy the return tickets now? | Pensi che dovremmo comprare i biglietti di ritorno adesso? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | Sai se ha una ragazza? |
| Do you think she is good? | Tu pensi sia brava? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
| How much do you think there is? | Quanto pensi ce ne sia? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Dove pensi che possiamo trovare una casa? |
