B1 Passive & Reported Speech 5 min read Medium

Indirect Questions

Wrap questions in polite phrases using dacă or question words to sound like a sophisticated Romanian speaker.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Indirect questions turn direct queries into polite statements or reported speech using 'dacă' (if) or interrogative pronouns like 'unde' or 'ce'.

  • Use 'dacă' for Yes/No questions: 'Mă întreb dacă plouă' (I wonder if it's raining).
  • Keep the original question word (unde, cine, când) for WH-questions: 'Nu știu unde este'.
  • Remove the question mark and use statement intonation instead of rising pitch at the end.
Intro Verb (a întreba/a ști) + [dacă / unde / cine / ce] + Subject + Verb

Overview

Ever felt like you were being too blunt in Romanian? Direct questions are like a bright spotlight. They are fast but sometimes a bit too intense. Indirect questions are like soft, warm lamps. They make you sound polite and sophisticated. You use them when you want to ask something without being pushy. Instead of shouting "Where is the bathroom?", you ask "Could you tell me where the bathroom is?". In Romanian, this is the difference between a tourist and a local. It is a key skill for the B1 level. It moves you from basic survival to real conversation. You will use this at work, in shops, and with new friends. It is all about how you frame your thoughts. Think of it as adding a polite cushion to your sentences.

How This Grammar Works

Indirect questions are basically questions hidden inside other sentences. You take a direct question like Unde este stația? (Where is the station?). Then, you wrap it in a polite introductory phrase. This phrase is like a "social anchor" for your sentence. Once you add the anchor, the question becomes part of a statement. In English, we often flip the word order for this. In Romanian, the word order usually stays the same as the direct question. This is great news for you! You don't have to do mental gymnastics with the verb and subject. You just need to connect the two parts correctly. It is like building a bridge between two islands. One island is your politeness, and the other is the information you need.

Formation Pattern

1
Building an indirect question follows a simple three-step recipe.
2
Pick your introductory phrase (the anchor). Common ones include Vă rog să-mi spuneți (Please tell me) or Aș vrea să știu (I would like to know).
3
Choose your connector (the bridge). If it is a Yes/No question, use dacă (if/whether). If it is a Wh- question, use the question word itself like unde, când, or cine.
4
Add your original question (the message). Keep the word order natural.
5
Example: Vă rog să-mi spuneți + unde + este muzeul.
6
Result: Vă rog să-mi spuneți unde este muzeul. (Please tell me where the museum is.)
7
It is much easier than English because you don't need auxiliary verbs like "do" or "does". Just stack the blocks and you are done!

When To Use It

Use indirect questions whenever you want to be extra polite. This is perfect for ordering food in a nice restaurant. You might ask Aș dori să știu dacă aveți preparate vegetariene (I would like to know if you have vegetarian dishes). Use it in job interviews to show respect. For example, Mă întrebam când veți lua o decizie (I was wondering when you will make a decision). It is also vital for asking directions from strangers on the street. Instead of just saying Unde e strada?, try Știți cumva unde este strada?. It sounds much softer. You can also use it to report what someone else asked. This is why it falls under "reported speech". It is a very versatile tool for your social toolbox.

When Not To Use It

Do not use indirect questions when you need to be very fast. If there is an emergency, just use a direct question! If a fire starts, do not say "I was wondering if you could tell me where the exit is." Just yell Unde este ieșirea?!. Also, avoid them with very close friends or family in casual settings. It can sound sarcastic or weirdly formal. If you ask your best friend Te-aș ruga să-mi spui dacă vrei pizza, they might think you are mad at them. Keep it simple with friends. Use direct questions for speed and indirect questions for grace. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green means go direct with friends. Yellow means slow down and use indirect with strangers.

Common Mistakes

One big mistake is using că (that) instead of dacă (if). In English, we say "I don't know if...", and in Romanian, it must be Nu știu dacă.... Using că here will confuse people. Another mistake is over-complicating the word order. Remember, Romanian is friendly here. You don't need to swap the subject and verb like in English. Just keep them where they were in the direct question. Some people also forget the introductory phrase entirely. If you just say Dacă vii?, it sounds like an incomplete thought. You need the anchor! Finally, don't use double question marks. Even though there is a question inside, the whole sentence is often a statement. One period at the end is usually enough.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Let's compare direct and indirect questions.

Direct: Cât costă? (How much does it cost?)

Indirect: Vreau să știu cât costă. (I want to know how much it costs.)

Notice how the direct one feels like a demand. The indirect one feels like a statement of interest.
Another contrast is with reported speech.

Direct: Ești gata? (Are you ready?)

Reported: M-a întrebat dacă sunt gata. (He asked me if I am ready.)

The structure is identical. If you learn indirect questions, you have already learned half of reported speech! It is a two-for-one deal in the grammar world.

Quick FAQ

Q

Is dacă always used for Yes/No questions?

Yes, it works just like "if" or "whether" in English.

Q

Can I use oare in indirect questions?

Yes! Mă întreb oare unde este adds a nice touch of "I wonder".

Q

Do I need to change the verb tense?

Usually no, unless you are reporting something from the past.

Q

Is it okay to use this in emails?

It is actually preferred! It makes your emails look very professional.

Q

What is the most polite starter?

Ați putea să-mi spuneți... (Could you tell me...) is a classic winner.

Common Introductory Verbs (Present Tense)

Pronoun a întreba (to ask) a se întreba (to wonder) a ști (to know)
Eu
întreb
mă întreb
știu
Tu
întrebi
te întrebi
știi
El/Ea
întreabă
se întreabă
știe
Noi
întrebăm
ne întrebăm
știm
Voi
întrebați
vă întrebați
știți
Ei/Ele
întreabă
se întreabă
știu

Meanings

Indirect questions are subordinate clauses that function as the object of a main verb expressing inquiry, doubt, or lack of knowledge. They allow a speaker to report what someone else asked or to express their own uncertainty without using a direct, sometimes blunt, question format.

1

Reporting a Question

Used to tell someone else what a third party asked previously.

“Ea m-a întrebat unde locuiesc.”

“Directorul a întrebat cine a terminat raportul.”

2

Polite Inquiry

Softening a request for information to avoid sounding demanding.

“Aș vrea să știu cât costă biletul.”

“Vă rog să-mi spuneți unde este stația.”

3

Expressing Uncertainty

Stating that you lack specific information or are pondering a possibility.

“Nu sunt sigur dacă am închis ușa.”

“Nu știu ce să fac în această situație.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Indirect Questions
Intro Phrase Connector Direct Question Full Indirect Question
Nu știu
dacă
Vine el?
Nu știu dacă vine el.
Spune-mi
unde
Unde mergi?
Spune-mi unde mergi.
Vreau să știu
cât
Cât costă?
Vreau să știu cât costă.
Mă întreb
cine
Cine a sunat?
Mă întreb cine a sunat.
Vă rog să-mi spuneți
când
Când începe?
Vă rog să-mi spuneți când începe.
Nu sunt sigur
dacă
E deschis?
Nu sunt sigur dacă e deschis.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Aș dori să aflu unde vă aflați în acest moment.

Aș dori să aflu unde vă aflați în acest moment. (location inquiry)

Neutral
Vreau să știu unde ești.

Vreau să știu unde ești. (location inquiry)

Informal
Zi-mi și mie unde ești.

Zi-mi și mie unde ești. (location inquiry)

Slang
Unde ești, mă?

Unde ești, mă? (location inquiry)

Indirect Question Starters

Introductory Phrases

Polite

  • Vă rog să-mi spuneți Please tell me
  • Aș dori să știu I would like to know

Curious

  • Mă întreb I wonder
  • Nu sunt sigur I am not sure

Direct vs. Indirect

Direct (Blunt)
Unde ești? Where are you?
Ai bani? Do you have money?
Indirect (Polite)
Spune-mi unde ești. Tell me where you are.
Vreau să știu dacă ai bani. I want to know if you have money.

Choosing the Connector

1

Is it a Yes/No question?

YES ↓
NO
Use question word (unde, când, cine, etc.)
2

Use 'dacă'

YES ↓
NO
Error

Common Wh- Connectors

📍

Place & Time

  • • unde (where)
  • • când (when)
👤

People & Things

  • • cine (who)
  • • ce (what)
🤔

Manner & Reason

  • • cum (how)
  • • de ce (why)
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Examples by Level

1

Nu știu unde este gara.

I don't know where the station is.

2

Ea întreabă ce oră este.

She is asking what time it is.

3

Nu știu dacă el vine.

I don't know if he is coming.

4

Spune-mi cine este el.

Tell me who he is.

1

Vreau să știu cât costă pâinea.

I want to know how much the bread costs.

2

Mama mă întreabă dacă am mâncat.

Mom asks me if I have eaten.

3

Știți unde locuiesc ei?

Do you know where they live?

4

Nu înțeleg de ce plângi.

I don't understand why you are crying.

1

Mă întrebam dacă ai putea să mă ajuți.

I was wondering if you could help me.

2

Te rog să-mi spui când începe filmul.

Please tell me when the movie starts.

3

Nu sunt sigur care variantă este mai bună.

I'm not sure which version is better.

4

L-am întrebat pe colegul meu cum se folosește imprimanta.

I asked my colleague how to use the printer.

1

Directorul a vrut să afle cine a autorizat plata.

The director wanted to find out who authorized the payment.

2

Rămâne de văzut dacă rezultatele vor fi pozitive.

It remains to be seen if the results will be positive.

3

Mă întreb de ce nu a răspuns încă la e-mail.

I wonder why he hasn't replied to the email yet.

4

Nu mi-a explicat clar în ce constă sarcina mea.

He didn't explain clearly what my task consists of.

1

Este discutabil dacă această strategie va da roade pe termen lung.

It is debatable whether this strategy will yield results in the long run.

2

Mă întrebam în ce măsură ești dispus să negociezi.

I was wondering to what extent you are willing to negotiate.

3

Nu s-a precizat cine anume va suporta costurile de transport.

It wasn't specified who exactly will bear the transport costs.

4

Aș dori să clarificăm dacă există vreo incompatibilitate.

I would like us to clarify if there is any incompatibility.

1

Se pune problema dacă nu cumva am interpretat greșit datele.

The question arises whether we might have misinterpreted the data.

2

Rămâne o enigmă cum de a reușit să scape neobservat.

It remains an enigma how he managed to escape unnoticed.

3

E greu de anticipat care vor fi repercusiunile acestui act.

It's hard to anticipate what the repercussions of this act will be.

4

Mă întrebam dacă nu ar fi mai oportun să amânăm decizia.

I was wondering if it wouldn't be more opportune to postpone the decision.

Easily Confused

Indirect Questions vs Dacă vs. Că

Learners use 'că' (that) for everything because it's the most common connector.

Indirect Questions vs Indirect Questions vs. Relative Clauses

Words like 'care' and 'unde' are used in both, but their function differs.

Indirect Questions vs Word Order in English vs. Romanian

English flips 'Where is he?' to 'I know where he is'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Mă întreabă că vin?

✓

Mă întreabă dacă vin.

Never use 'că' (that) for questions; use 'dacă' (if).
✗

Nu știu unde este el?

✓

Nu știu unde este el.

Indirect questions are statements and don't need a question mark.
✗

Spune-mi ce faci?

✓

Spune-mi ce faci.

The imperative 'Spune-mi' makes the sentence a command/statement, not a question.
✗

Nu știu cine este Maria?

✓

Nu știu cine este Maria.

Falling intonation is required for the period at the end.
✗

Vreau să știu dacă vii sau nu vii?

✓

Vreau să știu dacă vii sau nu.

Avoid unnecessary repetition in indirect questions.
✗

M-a întrebat unde eu locuiesc.

✓

M-a întrebat unde locuiesc.

Romanian usually drops the subject pronoun unless it's for emphasis.
✗

Știi dacă el este acasă.

✓

Știi dacă el este acasă?

If the main clause is a question, you DO need a question mark.
✗

Mă întrebam dacă ai putea să mă ajuți?

✓

Mă întrebam dacă ai putea să mă ajuți.

Even with the conditional 'ai putea', it's a statement of wondering.
✗

Nu mi-a spus de ce a plecat el.

✓

Nu mi-a spus de ce a plecat.

Word order: 'de ce a plecat' is more natural than 'de ce el a plecat'.
✗

Vă rog să-mi spuneți că unde este gara.

✓

Vă rog să-mi spuneți unde este gara.

Do not double up on connectors (că + unde).
✗

Mă întreb unde o fi el?

✓

Mă întreb unde o fi el.

The presumptive mood 'o fi' doesn't turn the statement into a direct question.

Sentence Patterns

Nu știu ___.

Mă întreb dacă ___.

Aș vrea să aflu de ce ___.

Vă rog să-mi spuneți când ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

Nu știu dacă mai vin diseară.

Job Interview common

Aș vrea să știu care sunt responsabilitățile mele.

Ordering Food very common

Puteți să-mi spuneți dacă aveți opțiuni vegetariene?

Asking for Directions occasional

Nu vă supărați, știți unde este strada Lipscani?

Social Media very common

Mă întreb cine a câștigat concursul.

Doctor's Appointment common

Vreau să știu când vor fi gata analizele.

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💡

The 'Dacă' Rule

Always use dacă when you could translate it as 'if' or 'whether'. It's the most common connector in Romanian.
⚠️

No 'Că' Allowed

Don't confuse că (that) with dacă (if). If you're asking a question, că will sound like you're making a statement by mistake.
🎯

Punctuation Matters

If the sentence starts with a statement like Nu știu..., end it with a period. If the whole sentence is a question like Știi dacă...?, use a question mark.
💬

Politeness in Romania

Romanians value politeness with strangers. Using Vă rog să-mi spuneți will get you much better service at a bakery than just asking for bread!

Smart Tips

Start with 'Nu vă supărați, aș vrea să știu dacă...'. It's the magic formula for politeness in Romania.

Unde e gara? → Nu vă supărați, aș vrea să știu dacă îmi puteți spune unde este gara.

Read the sentence aloud. If your voice doesn't go up at the end, don't use a question mark.

Nu știu cine e? → Nu știu cine e.

Check if it's a condition (If it rains, I stay) or a question (I don't know if it rains). In both cases, Romanian uses 'dacă', which is easier than other languages!

I don't know that he comes. → Nu știu dacă vine.

Use 'de ce' and keep the verb immediately after it for the most natural flow.

M-a întrebat de ce el a plecat. → M-a întrebat de ce a plecat.

Pronunciation

Nu știu unde ES-te. (Pitch drops on 'te')

Falling Intonation

Unlike direct questions, indirect questions end with a falling pitch.

Mă întreb UN-de pleacă.

Connector Stress

The question word (unde, ce, cine) usually carries a slight stress to signal the start of the sub-clause.

Statement Drop

Mă întreb dacă vine. ↘

Conveys a statement of uncertainty rather than a direct query.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'D.I.C.E.': Dacă (If), Interogative (Question words), Cerere (Request), Exprimare (Expression).

Visual Association

Imagine a person looking into a mirror. The person is the 'Intro Verb' (I wonder), and the reflection is the 'Indirect Question' (if I look good). The mirror itself is the connector 'dacă'.

Rhyme

Când întrebi și nu e direct, 'Dacă' sau 'Unde' e perfect!

Story

A detective named Radu never asks anyone anything directly. Instead of asking 'Where is the money?', he says 'I want to know where the money is.' Instead of 'Did you do it?', he says 'I wonder if you did it.' Be like Detective Radu to master indirect questions.

Word Web

dacăundecinecândcumîntrebștiuaflu

Challenge

Write down 5 direct questions you asked today, then transform them into indirect questions starting with 'Mă întreb...'.

Cultural Notes

In Romania, using indirect questions with 'Aș vrea să știu...' is considered a sign of good education (cei șapte ani de acasă).

In the Republic of Moldova, you might hear 'că' used more frequently in places where 'dacă' is standard, due to Russian influence, but 'dacă' remains the correct form.

In rural areas, people are often very direct. Indirect questions might be seen as overly formal or 'city-like'.

Derived from Latin 'si' (if) becoming 'dacă' in Romanian, and Latin interrogatives (unde, quis, quid) evolving into Romanian forms.

Conversation Starters

“

Poți să-mi spui unde ai fost în vacanță?

“

Mă întrebam dacă îți place mâncarea românească.

“

Știi cine este cel mai faimos actor din țara ta?

“

Vreau să aflu de ce ai ales să înveți limba română.

Journal Prompts

Scrie despre o zi în care te-ai simțit pierdut într-un oraș nou. Folosește întrebări indirecte pentru a descrie ce ai întrebat trecătorii.
Imaginează-ți un interviu cu o celebritate. Scrie 5 întrebări pe care ai vrea să le pui, folosind forme indirecte.
Descrie o conversație dificilă pe care ai avut-o recent. Raportează ce te-au întrebat ceilalți.
Scrie o scrisoare formală către o universitate, cerând detalii despre admitere.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct connector for the indirect question.

Nu știu ___ vine la petrecere.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
We use 'dacă' because it is a Yes/No question (Is he coming or not?). 'Că' is for statements.
Complete the polite request for information.

Vă rog să-mi spuneți ___ este ora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
In Romanian, to ask for the time, we use 'cât' (Cât e ceasul?).
Pick the most natural word order.

Vreau să știu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Romanian keeps the standard 'Word + Verb + Subject' or 'Word + Verb' order in indirect questions.

Score: /3

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Completează cu 'dacă' sau 'unde'.

Nu știu ___ este cheia mea.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: unde
The sentence asks about a location, so 'unde' (where) is correct.
Alege varianta corectă. Multiple Choice

Ea mă întreabă...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dacă vin la cinema.
Indirect questions use 'dacă', not 'că', and don't end with a question mark.
Corectează greșeala: 'Nu știu cine este el?' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Nu știu cine este el?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nu știu cine este el.
Remove the question mark for indirect questions.
Transformă în întrebare indirectă: 'Cât costă biletul?' Sentence Transformation

Cât costă biletul?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vreau să știu cât costă biletul.
Keep the question word 'cât' and add an introductory verb.
Completează dialogul. Dialogue Completion

A: Unde e Maria? B: Nu știu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: unde este
B is reporting that they don't know the location mentioned by A.
Care este o întrebare indirectă corectă? Grammar Sorting

Identifică structura corectă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mă întreb de ce nu sună.
No 'că' before 'de ce' and no question mark.
Adevărat sau Fals: Întrebările indirecte folosesc întotdeauna semnul întrebării. True False Rule

Întrebările indirecte folosesc semnul întrebării.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fals
They only use a question mark if the main clause is also a question.
Potrivește întrebarea directă cu cea indirectă. Match Pairs

1. Ce faci? 2. Vii?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Nu știu ce faci, 2-Mă întreb dacă vii
'Ce' stays 'ce', 'Vii?' (Yes/No) becomes 'dacă'.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

No. Use `dacă` for yes/no questions and the question word (unde, cine, etc.) for others. `Că` is only for reporting statements.

In Romanian, it's less common than in English. You can usually keep the same tense as the direct question.

Only if the main verb is a question, e.g., `Știi unde este?`. If it's `Nu știu unde este.`, use a period.

Yes, using the imperfect `mă întrebam` (I was wondering) is a common way to be more indirect and polite.

In indirect questions, `dacă` is standard. `Ori` is used in 'either/or' choices, like `Nu știu dacă vine sau nu`.

Usually, they follow a main verb, but you can say `Dacă vine sau nu, nu știu.` for emphasis.

`Unde e` is more common in speech, while `unde este` is more formal/written.

Use the reflexive verb `a se întreba`: `Mă întreb...`.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

si / dónde / qué

Romanian doesn't use the opening question mark.

French moderate

si / où / ce que

French 'ce que' vs Romanian 'ce'.

German low

ob / wo / was

Verb-final word order in German.

Japanese none

~ka / ~ka dou ka

Japanese uses end-particles; Romanian uses start-connectors.

Arabic partial

hal / idha / 'ayna

Arabic has specific particles for questioning that Romanian lacks.

Chinese low

shì bù shì / nǎlǐ

Chinese uses verb duplication instead of 'dacă'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Pronoun Shifts

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