A2-16 · Ask indirectly with ob and question words

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Ask polite indirect questions in a fictional post office, bank and hair salon.

About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions

Gouache illustration of an adult holding a parcel at a post office counter, with a clerk, blank forms and a wall clock.

At the post office

In these fictional visits, Sam asks for information. An indirect yes-or-no question begins with ob, meaning whether. The conjugated verb goes to the end of that clause.

Können Sie mir sagen, ob die Post offen ist?

Can you tell me whether the post office is open?

Ich möchte wissen, ob das Paket heute kommt.

I would like to know whether the parcel will arrive today.

Wissen Sie, ob ich hier Briefmarken kaufen kann?

Do you know whether I can buy stamps here?

Können Sie mir sagen, ob der Schalter besetzt ist?

Can you tell me whether the counter is staffed?

Compare Ist die Post offen? with Können Sie mir sagen, ob die Post offen ist? The opening makes the request polite; ob introduces the question being asked.

At the bank

Keep the original question word in an indirect information question. Wo asks where, wann asks when, and wie asks how. As with ob, the verb goes to the end.

Wissen Sie, wo der Geldautomat ist?

Do you know where the cash machine is?

Können Sie mir sagen, wann die Bank schließt?

Can you tell me when the bank closes?

Ich möchte wissen, wie viel das Konto kostet.

I would like to know how much the account costs.

Wissen Sie, wo ich das Formular bekomme?

Do you know where I can get the form?

Compare Wo ist der Automat? with Wissen Sie, wo der Automat ist? Do not add ob before a question word.

At the hair salon

Sam asks about a haircut and an appointment. Choose ob when the answer could be yes or no. Use a question word when you want a particular piece of information.

Wissen Sie, ob heute ein Termin frei ist?

Do you know whether an appointment is available today?

Können Sie mir sagen, wann mein Termin beginnt?

Can you tell me when my appointment begins?

Ich möchte wissen, wie viel der Haarschnitt kostet.

I would like to know how much the haircut costs.

Wissen Sie, wer mir die Haare schneidet?

Do you know who will cut my hair?

Der Termin is an appointment, and der Haarschnitt is a haircut. An indirect question after Ich möchte wissen ends with a full stop; the polite question Wissen Sie ...? ends with a question mark.

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