Forming Indirect Questions
When asking for information or directions, it is often more polite to use an indirect question. You form these by placing an interrogative word—like hvar (where) or hvenær (when)—inside another sentence.
In a direct question, the verb typically comes immediately after the question word. However, in an indirect question, the word order changes to standard statement order: Question Word + Subject + Verb.
| The tourist asks where the information is. | Ferðamaðurinn spyr hvar upplýsingarnar eru. |
| Does he know when the coach goes to the airport? | Veit hann hvenær rútan fer á flugvöllinn? |
Asking for Directions
To ask someone directly for help, you can start your sentence with polite phrases like Getur þú sagt mér... (Can you tell me...).
| Can you tell me where the stop in the city center is? | Getur þú sagt mér hvar stoppistöðin í miðbænum er? |
When getting around, you will also frequently use the question word hvernig (how). It is especially useful alongside the verb rata (to find one's way) to ask how to navigate from place to place.
| to find one's way | rata |
| She asks how we find our way to the airport. | Hún spyr hvernig við rötum á flugvöllinn. |
Stating What You Don't Know
The same indirect question structure is used when stating that someone does not have the answer to something. You will often see this after phrases like vita ekki (to not know).
| I do not know where the man can find the ticket. | Ég veit ekki hvar maðurinn getur fundið farmiðann. |
| The boy does not know how he goes from the city center to the airport. | Strákurinn veit ekki hvernig hann fer úr miðbænum á flugvöllinn. |