







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 | |
|---|---|
| How much do you think there is? | どれくらいあると思う? |
| Do you think they are doing fine? | 彼ら大丈夫だと思う? |
| Do you know how old this station is? | この駅がどのくらい古いのか知っている? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | 彼はいい人だと思わない? |
| Do you think we should see the next house? | 次のお家も見るべきかしら? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | 私たち買った方がいいと思う? |
| Can you please tell me where it is? | それは、どこにあるのか教えてくれます? |
| How long do you think it will take? | ミーティングはどれくらいかかるの? |
| Do you think it's a good idea? | 良いアイデアだと思う? |
| Can you tell me, Nick, how much they pay, please? | ニック、彼らがいくら払ってるのか教えてくれるかい? |
| Do you know how much the tickets are? | チケットがいくらか知ってる? |
| Do you think we can find it there? | そっちで見つけられると思う? |
| Do you think we can let him go out? | 彼を行かせてあげてもいいと思う? |
| Do you know what colour the packet is? | 何色のパッケージか分かる? |
| Do you think you are a good cook? | あなたは料理するの上手だと思う? |
| Do you know why they built this enormous pier? | なぜ彼らがこんなに巨大な浅橋を建てたのか知ってる? |
| Don't you think it's better to live upstairs? | 上の階に住む方が良いと思わないの? |
| I'm still checking, do you think I can try some bugs here? | まだ見てるよ。ここって虫も食べれると思うかい? |
| Do you think it will help us get a table? | そんなんでテーブルが押さえられると思うの? |
| How long do you think it's going to take to be ready? | 出来上がるまで、どれくらい時間がかかると思う? |