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Les questions indirectes : demander poliment en anglais

Fiche à imprimer : le cours, les trois exercices et le corrigé (sur une page à part). Revenir au cours en ligne

Pour demander poliment, on introduit la question par Can you tell me...? Could you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder.... La question devient alors indirecte, et l'ordre des mots change.

1. Sujet + verbe (pas d'inversion)

Where is the station? → Can you tell me where the station is?
Où est la gare ? → Pouvez-vous me dire où est la gare ?

2. Do / does / did disparaissent

Where does he live? → Do you know where he lives?
Où habite-t-il ? → Sais-tu où il habite ?
What time did the film start? → I don't know what time the film started.
À quelle heure le film a-t-il commencé ? → Je ne sais pas à quelle heure le film a commencé.

Le verbe reprend sa forme normale : -s à la 3e personne du présent, prétérit au passé.

3. Question fermée (oui / non) : if ou whether

Is the museum open? → Do you know if the museum is open?
Le musée est-il ouvert ? → Savez-vous si le musée est ouvert ?

Pas de point d'interrogation après I wonder... ou I don't know... : ce ne sont pas des questions.

Mise en situation : dans la rue

Tourist : Excuse me, could you tell me where the British Museum is?
Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous me dire où est le British Museum ?
Woman : Sure. It's about ten minutes on foot, near Russell Square.
Bien sûr. C'est à environ dix minutes à pied, près de Russell Square.
Tourist : Thanks. Do you know if it's open on Mondays?
Merci. Savez-vous s'il est ouvert le lundi ?
Woman : I think so, but I don't know what time it closes.
Je crois, mais je ne sais pas à quelle heure il ferme.

À retenir

  • Question indirecte : sujet + verbe (Can you tell me where the station is?).
  • do / does / did disparaissent : Do you know where he lives?
  • Question oui / non : if ou whether.
  • Formules polies : Could you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder...

Exercice 1 : Les questions indirectes : exercice 1 (QCM)

  1. Can you tell me where the station ___?
    1. does be
    2. is
    3. is it
  2. Do you know what time ___?
    1. it is
    2. does it
    3. is it
  3. I don't know where ___.
    1. does he live
    2. he lives
    3. lives he
  4. Could you tell me ___ the museum opens?
    1. when
    2. when does
    3. that when
  5. Do you know ___ the shop is open on Sunday?
    1. what
    2. that
    3. if
  6. I wonder why ___ late.
    1. she is
    2. does she
    3. is she
  7. Can you tell me how much ___?
    1. costs this
    2. this costs
    3. does this cost
  8. Do you know where ___ my keys?
    1. put I
    2. I put
    3. did I put
  9. I'd like to know ___ you're coming or not.
    1. what
    2. that
    3. whether
  10. « Savez-vous où est la gare ? »
    1. Do you know where the station is?
    2. Do you know where does the station is?
    3. Do you know where is the station?

Exercice 2 : Les questions indirectes : exercice 2 (à compléter)

  1. Where is the bank? → Can you tell me where the bank .......................... ?
  2. What time does the film start? → Do you know what time the film .......................... ?
  3. Where did she go? → I don't know where she .......................... .
  4. Is it far? → Do you know .......................... it's far?
  5. How old is he? → I wonder how old he .......................... .
  6. What does this word mean? → Can you tell me what this word .......................... ?
  7. Where do you live? → I'd like to know where you .......................... .
  8. Can I park here? → Do you know .......................... I can park here?
  9. Why are you sad? → Tell me why you .......................... sad.
  10. Who wrote this book? → Do you know who .......................... this book?

Exercice 3 : Les questions indirectes : mise en situation

  1. Dans la rue, tu demandes poliment où est la poste.
    1. Excuse me, could you tell me where the post office is?
    2. Excuse me, tell me where the post office.
    3. Excuse me, could you tell me where is the post office?
  2. Au musée, tu veux savoir à quelle heure il ferme.
    1. Do you know what time the museum closes?
    2. Do you know what time closes the museum?
    3. Do you know what time does the museum close?
  3. Tu demandes à un passant s'il y a un supermarché près d'ici.
    1. Do you know if there's a supermarket near here?
    2. Do you know there's a supermarket near here?
    3. Do you know is there a supermarket near here?
  4. Tu ne sais plus où tu as mis ton téléphone.
    1. I don't know where I put my phone.
    2. I don't know where put I my phone.
    3. I don't know where did I put my phone.
  5. Au magasin, tu demandes le prix d'une veste.
    1. Could you tell me how much does this jacket cost?
    2. Could you tell me how much this jacket costs?
    3. Could you tell me how much costs this jacket?
  6. Tu te demandes pourquoi ton ami n'est pas venu.
    1. I wonder why he didn't come.
    2. I wonder why he not came.
    3. I wonder why didn't he come.
  7. Tu demandes à la réceptionniste si le petit-déjeuner est compris.
    1. Could you tell me is breakfast included?
    2. Could you tell me breakfast is included?
    3. Could you tell me if breakfast is included?
  8. À la gare, tu demandes de quel quai part le train.
    1. Can you tell me which platform the train leaves from?
    2. Can you tell me the train leaves from which platform?
    3. Can you tell me which platform does the train leave from?
  9. Tu demandes à ta prof ce que veut dire un mot.
    1. Could you tell me what this word means?
    2. Could you tell me what does this word mean?
    3. Could you tell me what means this word?
  10. Tu demandes à un ami s'il sait à quelle heure commence le concert.
    1. Do you know what time starts the concert?
    2. Do you know what time the concert starts?
    3. Do you know what time does the concert start?

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) is · 2. a) it is · 3. b) he lives · 4. a) when · 5. c) if · 6. a) she is · 7. b) this costs · 8. b) I put · 9. c) whether · 10. a) Do you know where the station is?

Exercice 2

1. is · 2. starts · 3. went · 4. if · 5. is · 6. means · 7. live · 8. if · 9. are · 10. wrote

Exercice 3

1. a) Excuse me, could you tell me where the post office is? · 2. a) Do you know what time the museum closes? · 3. a) Do you know if there's a supermarket near here? · 4. a) I don't know where I put my phone. · 5. b) Could you tell me how much this jacket costs? · 6. a) I wonder why he didn't come. · 7. c) Could you tell me if breakfast is included? · 8. a) Can you tell me which platform the train leaves from? · 9. a) Could you tell me what this word means? · 10. b) Do you know what time the concert starts?