Differences between verb + の verb + か and -ます/-です?


Consider these two examples:

神｛かみ｝を信｛しん｝じるの？

and

神を信じますか？

To me, both mean 'Do you believe in God/gods?', with the first example
possibly slightly more casual than the second. Other than that, are there any
other nuances? I can't really give a context, but in general they seem to be
used slightly differently and I can't seem to pinpoint the exact differences.




If I had to make タメ語-丁寧語 correspondences, I would say that roughly

> 神を信じる？ corresponds to 神を信じますか？

and

> 神を信じるの？ corresponds to 神を信じるんですか？

The versions without の are plain yes/no questions, something you ask when
there is nothing in the discourse/environment hinting either way.

The versions without の are used when something in the discourse/environment
has provided a hint to the speaker that the addressee believes in God
(possibly contrary to previous expectation).




If I had to make タメ語-丁寧語 correspondences, I would say that roughly

> 神を信じる？ corresponds to 神を信じますか？

and

> 神を信じるの？ corresponds to 神を信じるんですか？

The versions without の are plain yes/no questions, something you ask when
there is nothing in the discourse/environment hinting either way.

The versions without の are used when something in the discourse/environment
has provided a hint to the speaker that the addressee believes in God
(possibly contrary to previous expectation).

