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 know why they built this enormous pier? | Sai perché hanno costruito questo molo enorme? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | Pensi che ci aiuterà ad avere un tavolo? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | Ma perché pensi che dovremmo lasciare la casa? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | Chi vorrebbe? Puoi dirmi allora dove vuoi vivere? |
| Yes, I'm ready, do you think I'll need a jacket? | Si sono pronta, pensi che mi servirà una giacca? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | Sai di che colore è la confezione? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | Quanto tempo pensi ci voglia perché sia pronto? |
| Do you think I should take Pogo out of his box? | Credi che dovrei fare uscire Pogo dalla sua gabbietta? |
| When do you think you will be leaving? | Quando pensi di partire? |
| When do you think you are going to look for houses again? | Quando pensi di cercare nuovamente delle case? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | Non credi sia meglio vivere al piano di sopra? |
| Erm, what do you think she could do to them? | Erm, cosa pensi che potrebbe fare a loro? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | Sai quanto costano i biglietti? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | Sto ancora guardando, pensi che posso provare qualche insetto qui? |
| Where do you think we can get a house? | Dove pensi che possiamo trovare una casa? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | Pensi che dovremo comprarlo? |
| Yeah, I forgot that, when do you think we can meet, then? | Già, dimenticavo, quando pensi che possiamo vederci, allora? |
| 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? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | Non pensi sia un bravo ragazzo? |
