Learn German Indirect Questions (Indirekte Fragesätze) with This Guide

Introduction

Understanding how to form indirect questions in German is important for fluent communication. Indirect questions allow you to ask questions politely or embed them within statements. This guide will explain what German indirect question sentences are and how to use them correctly.

What Are German Indirect Question Sentences?

Indirect question sentences in German are questions embedded within another sentence. They are often used to express curiosity, uncertainty, or to ask something politely. Instead of asking a direct question, you integrate the question into a statement or another question.

Example: Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. (I don't know if he is coming.)

Indirect Questions with "ob" (Yes/No Questions)

When there is no question word (like "who," "what," "where"),German uses the word "ob" to introduce indirect yes/no questions.

Examples with "ob"

Direct Question	Indirect Question	English Translation
Kommt er?	Ich frage mich, ob er kommt.	I wonder if he is coming.
Hast du Zeit?	Sie möchte wissen, ob du Zeit hast.	She wants to know if you have time.
Regnet es?	Wir wissen nicht, ob es regnet.	We don't know if it's raining.
Bist du bereit?	Er fragt, ob du bereit bist.	He asks if you are ready.

Indirect Questions with Question Words

When the direct question contains a question word (such as wer, was, wo, wann, warum, wie),the same word is used to introduce the indirect question.

Examples with Question Words

Direct Question	Indirect Question	English Translation
Wo wohnt er?	Ich weiß nicht, wo er wohnt.	I don't know where he lives.
Was macht sie?	Kannst du mir sagen, was sie macht?	Can you tell me what she is doing?
Wann beginnt der Film?	Wir fragen uns, wann der Film beginnt.	We wonder when the movie starts.
Wie spät ist es?	Er möchte wissen, wie spät es ist.	He wants to know what time it is.

Word Order in Indirect Questions

A student researching German indirect questions on a laptop in a library setting.

In indirect questions, the word order changes. The conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.

Example Sentences

Direct: "Woher kommt sie?"
Indirect: "Ich weiß nicht, woher sie kommt."
English: "I don't know where she comes from."

You can get more detailed information about the German word order: here.

Comparison: Direct vs. Indirect Questions

Understanding the difference between direct and indirect questions is important.

Aspect	Direct Question	Indirect Question
Structure	Verb comes after the question word.	Verb moves to the end of the clause.
Punctuation	Ends with a question mark.	Part of a larger sentence; ends with a period.
Formality	Can be direct and blunt.	More polite and indirect.

For more on forming direct questions, see our guide on German Direct Questions.

Conclusion

Mastering indirect questions in German helps you communicate more politely and integrate questions smoothly into conversations. Remember to adjust the word order by moving the verb to the end of the clause and to use "ob" for yes/no questions without question words. Practice forming indirect questions to become more comfortable with this structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the verb at the end in indirect questions?

In German, subordinate clauses require the conjugated verb to be at the end. Indirect questions are a type of subordinate clause.

When should I use "ob" and when “wenn”?

Use "ob" when the you have a indirect question. Wenn is needed in condional and temporal clauses. You can read more about the difference of “ob” and “wenn” in detail: here.

Can I use indirect questions in everyday conversation?

Yes, using indirect questions can make your speech sound more polite and natural in German.

Do indirect questions always require a comma?

Yes, in written German, a comma separates the main clause from the subordinate clause in indirect questions.

How do I form indirect questions with modal verbs?

The modal verb moves to the end of the clause after the main verb. For example: "Er fragt, ob du ihm helfen kannst." (He asks if you can help him.)