







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 | |
|---|---|
| When do you think you will be leaving? | いつ出発するつもりなの? |
| Who would? Can you tell me where you want to live then? | そうだろ? それじゃあどこに住みたいか言ってごらん? |
| 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? |
| Can you explain why we have to pay £30 more per week please? | どうして週に 30 ポンドも多く払わなきゃいけないのか説明してくれるかい? |
| 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? |
| Don't you think he is a nice guy? | 彼はいい人だと思わない? |
| Do you know if he has got a girlfriend? | ガールフレンドは居るのかな? |
| How much do you think renting a house would cost? | お家を借りるとするといくらぐらいかかるか分かる? |
| 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 should buy the return tickets now? | 私たち帰りのチケット買ったほうがいいと思う? |
| Don't you think we can get a house for 1200 per month. | 月 1200 でお家を買えると思うんだけど。 |
| 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? |
| Do you think we should buy it? | 私たち買った方がいいと思う? |
| Do you know how the girls are getting to Soho? | 女の子たちがどうやってソーホーに行くか知ってる? |
| 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? |
| When do you think we can have the meeting? | いつ僕たちはミーティング出来ると思いますか? |
| 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? |
| But why do you think we should leave the house? | でも、どうして僕たちが家を出るべきだなんて思うんだい? |
| Hey, don't you think Diego would like to join us, too? | ねえ、ディエゴも私たちに加わってくれるかしら? |
| Do you know what time it is? | 今何時かわかる? |