German Indirekte Fragesätze: W-Fragen and Ja/Nein-Fragen with Ob – The Deep Guide

Indirekte Fragesätze (indirect questions) are questions embedded within a larger sentence, often reporting what someone asked, wonders, or knows. Unlike direct questions (e.g., Wo bist du? – Where are you?), indirect questions use a different structure and word order, making them sound smoother and less abrupt. This guide focuses on two types: W-Fragen (with question words like wer, was, wo) and Ja/Nein-Fragen (yes/no questions with ob). We’ll explore how they work, why they matter, and how to use them naturally, with plenty of examples and exercises. Let’s get started!

What Are Indirekte Fragesätze?

Indirect questions turn a direct question into a statement-like form, often introduced by verbs like fragen (to ask), wissen (to know), sagen (to say), or wundern (to wonder). They’re common in reported speech, polite inquiries, or when reflecting on something.

Key Features

Direct vs. Indirect

1. W-Fragen (Indirect Questions with Question Words)

W-Fragen use question words (wer, was, wo, wann, warum, wie, welcher) to ask for specific information. In indirect form, the question word stays, but the structure shifts to a subordinate clause.

Structure

Main Clause (normal word order) + Question Word + Subject + Other Elements + Verb (at end).

Er fragt, wo ich wohne.

  • Main: Er fragt (He asks).
  • Indirect: wo ich wohne (where I live—verb wohne at end).

Detailed Description

  • Purpose: W-Fragen seek details—people (wer), things (was), places (wo), times (wann), reasons (warum), or manners (wie).
  • Word Order: The verb jumps to the end, unlike direct questions where it’s second.
  • Punctuation: A comma separates the main clause from the indirect question, and it ends with a period.
  • Tenses: Can use present, past, or subjunctive, depending on context (e.g., real vs. hypothetical).

Examples Across Tenses

  • Present: Ich weiß, wo du bist. (I know where you are.)
  • Perfekt: Sie fragt, was ich gemacht habe. (She asks what I’ve done.)
  • Präteritum: Er wusste, wann wir kamen. (He knew when we came.)
  • Konjunktiv II: Ich frage mich, wo er wäre. (I wonder where he would be.)

2. Ja/Nein-Fragen (Indirect Yes/No Questions with Ob)

Ja/Nein-Fragen ask for a yes or no answer. In indirect form, they use ob (whether/if) instead of a question word, and the verb still goes to the end.

Structure

Main Clause (normal word order) + Ob + Subject + Other Elements + Verb (at end).

Sie fragt, ob ich komme.

  • Main: Sie fragt (She asks).
  • Indirect: ob ich komme (whether I’m coming—verb komme at end).

Detailed Description

  • Purpose: Ob introduces a binary choice—yes or no—without specifying what’s being asked (unlike W-Fragen).
  • Word Order: Like W-Fragen, the verb moves to the end, reflecting the subordinate nature of the clause.
  • Tone: Ob softens the question, making it less direct and more polite or reflective.
  • Negation: Add nicht before the verb for negative possibilities—ob ich nicht komme (whether I’m not coming).

Examples Across Tenses

  • Present: Er weiß, ob sie hier ist. (He knows whether she’s here.)
  • Perfekt: Ich frage, ob du das gemacht hast. (I ask whether you’ve done that.)
  • Präteritum: Sie wusste, ob er kam. (She knew whether he came.)
  • Konjunktiv II: Er fragt sich, ob sie kommen würde. (He wonders whether she would come.)

Tons of Example Sentences

W-Fragen (Indirect)

Daily Life

  1. Ich weiß, wo der Schlüssel liegt. (I know where the key is.)
  2. Sie fragt, was wir essen wollen. (She asks what we want to eat.)
  3. Er sagt, wann der Film anfängt. (He says when the movie starts.)
  4. Wir wissen, wie man das macht. (We know how to do that.)
  5. Ich frage mich, warum er so spät ist. (I wonder why he’s so late.)

School/Work

  1. Der Lehrer fragt, wer die Hausaufgaben gemacht hat. (The teacher asks who did the homework.)
  2. Ich weiß, wo die Bücher sind. (I know where the books are.)
  3. Sie sagt, wann die Besprechung beginnt. (She says when the meeting starts.)
  4. Er fragt, wie lange wir bleiben. (He asks how long we’re staying.)
  5. Wir wissen, welcher Plan besser ist. (We know which plan is better.)

Past/Subjunctive

  1. Ich wusste, wo du warst. (I knew where you were.)
  2. Sie fragte, was ich gestern gemacht hatte. (She asked what I had done yesterday.)
  3. Er wunderte sich, warum sie nicht kam. (He wondered why she didn’t come.)
  4. Ich frage mich, wie es wäre. (I wonder how it would be.)
  5. Wir wussten, wann er ankam. (We knew when he arrived.)

Ja/Nein-Fragen (Indirect with Ob)

Daily Life

  1. Ich weiß, ob er kommt. (I know whether he’s coming.)
  2. Sie fragt, ob wir Zeit haben. (She asks if we have time.)
  3. Er sagt, ob das Essen fertig ist. (He says whether the food is ready.)
  4. Wir wissen, ob es regnet. (We know if it’s raining.)
  5. Ich frage mich, ob sie mich mag. (I wonder if she likes me.)

School/Work

  1. Der Chef fragt, ob die Arbeit fertig ist. (The boss asks if the work is done.)
  2. Ich weiß, ob die Prüfung schwer war. (I know whether the exam was hard.)
  3. Sie sagt, ob er morgen kommt. (She says whether he’s coming tomorrow.)
  4. Er fragt, ob wir helfen können. (He asks if we can help.)
  5. Wir wissen, ob der Plan funktioniert. (We know whether the plan works.)

Past/Subjunctive

  1. Ich wusste, ob sie da war. (I knew whether she was there.)
  2. Sie fragte, ob ich das gemacht hatte. (She asked if I had done that.)
  3. Er wunderte sich, ob sie kommen würde. (He wondered whether she would come.)
  4. Ich fragte mich, ob er es wusste. (I wondered if he knew it.)
  5. Wir wussten, ob sie gewonnen hatten. (We knew whether they had won.)

Deep Details and Nuances

1. Word Order Explained

  • Direct: Verb second (Wo bist du? – Where are you?).
  • Indirect: Verb at end (Ich weiß, wo du bist. – I know where you are.).
  • Why: The indirect question is a subordinate clause, so it follows subordinating conjunction rules (like dass, wenn).

2. Ob vs. Wenn

  • Ob: Yes/no, neutral—Ich weiß, ob er kommt. (I know whether he’s coming—fact-based.)
  • Wenn: Conditional if—Ich komme, wenn er kommt. (I’ll come if he comes—condition.)
  • Nuance: Ob asks about truth; wenn sets a condition.

3. Subjunctive Use

  • Konjunktiv II: Hypothetical or polite—Er fragt, wo sie wäre. (He asks where she would be.)
  • Konjunktiv I: Reported speech (formal)—Sie sagte, wo er sei. (She said where he was.)

4. Politeness Factor

  • Indirect questions soften directness:
  • Direct: Kommst du? (Are you coming?)
  • Indirect: Er fragt, ob du kommst. (He asks if you’re coming—less pushy.)

5. Combining with Other Structures

  • With dass: Ich weiß, dass er kommt, aber nicht, wann er kommt. (I know that he’s coming, but not when.)
  • With weil: Sie fragt, warum er kommt, weil sie es wissen will. (She asks why he’s coming because she wants to know.)

Creative Exercises with Multiple-Choice Options

Exercise 1: W-Fragen (Indirect)

  1. I know ___ you are.
  2. She asks ___ we want to eat.
  3. He wonders ___ she is late.
  4. We know ___ the train arrives.
  5. I asked ___ he had done.

Exercise 2: Ja/Nein-Fragen with Ob

  1. He knows ___ she’s coming.
  2. I ask ___ you have time.
  3. She wonders ___ he’s here.
  4. We knew ___ they had won.
  5. He asks ___ I can help.

Exercise 3: W-Fragen vs. Ob

  1. I know ___ he’s coming.
  2. She asks ___ you are.
  3. He wonders ___ it’s raining.
  4. We know ___ the key is.
  5. I asked ___ she could come.

Exercise 4: Mixed Indirect Story

Fill in with the correct indirect question.

  1. Ich weiß ___ du bist.
  2. Sie fragt ___ wir Zeit haben.
  3. Er sagt ___ der Bus kommt.
  4. Wir wissen ___ es regnet.
  5. Ich frage mich ___ er das gemacht hat.

Deep Tips to Master Indirekte Fragesätze

  • Verb Last: Always push the verb to the end—wo du bist, ob er kommt.
  • W vs. Ob: W-Fragen for specifics (wo, was), ob for yes/no—match the intent.
  • Describe Context: Is it a fact (Ich weiß, wo…) or a wonder (Ich frage mich, ob…)?
  • Daily Use: Say Ich weiß, wo das ist or Ich frage, ob du kommst—make it habit.
  • Compare: Direct (Wann kommst du?) vs. Indirect (Er fragt, wann du kommst.)—feel the shift.

You’re Ready!

This deep guide covers indirect W-Fragen and Ja/Nein-Fragen with ob—structures, descriptions, examples, and exercises. You’re ready to report questions like a native! Next, you could explore reported speech with Konjunktiv I or mix this with werden—your choice!

Resources for Extra Practice

Goethe A1/A2 Wortliste
Indirect questions in context.

 YouTube – EASY German
Hear indirect questions in talk.

 Schubert Verlag
Free indirect question exercises.

See Also

Wenn Clauses Dass Clauses Relative Clauses
Next: Konjunktiv-II →