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Indirect question Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 1 minute

Form : ( Indirect question phrase + question word / if / whether + subject + verb )

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:

Could you tell me...?
Do you know...?
Have you any idea...?
Can you tell me...?

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
Don't you think he is a nice guy?	彼はいい人だと思わない？
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？
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？
Can you tell me where you are taking me first?	まずはどこに連れてってくれるのか教えてくれないかな？
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？
How many people do you think you are going to cook for?	君は何人分の料理を作ろうと思ってるの？
Do you really think you want to solve the problem?	きみ、本当に問題を解決する気があるのかい？
Do you think she is good?	彼女は優れた獣医だと思う？
Do you know what colour the packet is?	何色のパッケージか分かる？
Do you think we should make a reservation?	予約するべきかな？
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？
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 we can find it there?	そっちで見つけられると思う？
That's insane, do you think we can negotiate the prices?	ありえないわね。価格交渉できるかしら？
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？
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 can let him go out?	彼を行かせてあげてもいいと思う？
Can you tell me what you are planning then?	それじゃあどうするつもりなんだい?
Erm, what do you think she could do to them?	でも、彼女があいつらに何かできると思う？

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