Indirect questions

Kurz erklärt

An indirect question reports or embeds a question instead of asking it directly. In French, it often follows expressions such as je voudrais savoir, je me demande, dis-moi, or savez-vous. The embedded clause normally uses statement word order, without est-ce que or subject-pronoun inversion.

Bildung

introductory expression + si (yes/no question) or an interrogative expression + subject + verb

Verwendung

• Use si to introduce an embedded yes/no question.
• Keep an existing question word such as où, quand, pourquoi, or comment.
• Use ce que for ‘what’ as the object and ce qui for ‘what’ as the subject.
• Indirect questions can make requests for information sound more polite.

Beispiele

• Je voudrais savoir si le musée est ouvert. — I would like to know whether the museum is open.
• Tu sais où elle habite ? — Do you know where she lives?
• Dis-moi ce que tu veux manger. — Tell me what you want to eat.
• Je me demande ce qui s’est passé. — I wonder what happened.

Typischer Fehler

❌ Je voudrais savoir est-ce que le musée est ouvert.

✅ Je voudrais savoir si le musée est ouvert.

Do not keep est-ce que inside an indirect question; use si for an embedded yes/no question.

Merke

Inside an indirect question, use statement word order. Choose si for ‘whether’ and ce que or ce qui for ‘what.’