LoginEmbedded Questions
In this lesson we learn about embedded questions, exploring their advanced structures and nuanced use in formal and informal contexts. Clear explanations and practice exercises to help you learn.
What Is an Embedded Question?
An embedded question is a type of sentence in which a question is included as part of a larger statement or question. It is also known as an indirect question.
Embedded Questions: Formation
An embedded question usually follows an introductory clause with a reporting verb such as "ask", "tell", "wonder", "know", etc. For example:
Do you know...
I wonder...
The question is...
Would you mind...
Could you tell me...
I'd like to know...
Let's ask...
I'm not sure...
Who knows...
Formation of the embedded question that follows these introductory clauses follows specific rules:
Rule #1
If the embedded question is in the past or present simple tense, the auxiliary verb do/did/does used in the direct question must be removed and the tense of the main verb adjusted accordingly. In embedded questions in continuous and perfect tenses, however, the auxiliary verb is kept, but since the embedded question follows normal word order, the inverted subject and auxiliary verb return to the original word order, that is, subject + verb. Let's see some examples:
What time did you eat? → I wonder what time you ate.
The auxiliary verb is removed and the past simple tense is reflected in the main verb.
When did you buy that dress? → Who knows when you bought that dress.
Why has he been so upset lately? → I don't know why he has been so upset lately.
When the auxiliary verb is "have" or "be", the embedded question returns the word order to normal.
Rule #2
Verbal contractions cannot be used at the end of sentences that contain an embedded question. Look at the examples:
I wonder where she is? (Not "I wonder where she's.")
Who knows what it is. (Not "who knows what it's.")
Rule #3
If the direct question is a yes/no question and there are no interrogative words in the sentence, the embedded question can be introduced using whether, if, and whether or not. For instance:
Direct question: Is she coming to the wedding?
Embedded questions: Do you know whether she is coming to the wedding or not?
Do you know whether she is coming to the wedding?
Do you know if she is coming to the wedding?
Rule #4
Infinitives can follow the interrogative word or 'whether' in embedded questions when the subject of the introductory clause and the embedded question are the same. As you can see in the following examples:
Normal question: What should I eat?
Embedded question: I wonder what I should eat.
Embedded question with to-infinitive: I wonder what to eat.
Normal question: What can he do?
Embedded question: He's not sure what he can do.
Embedded question with to-infinitive : He's not sure what to do.
If the subject of the introductory clause is different from the subject of the embedded question (for example, "She's not sure what he can do"), this can't be done.
Embedded Question: Usage in Sentence
Embedded questions are used in two ways:
as a part of another question
as a part of a statement
As a Part Of Another Question
Sometimes embedded questions can be used within another question. This is also called an indirect question and is used to sound more polite. For example:
normal question: What time is it?
indirect question: Do you know what time it is?
As a Part Of a Statement
Embedded questions are not always a part of another question. Sometimes, they are a part of a statement. Since the embedded question is a noun clause it can be treated like a noun. It can serve as the object or the subject of the main clause. When using embedded questions in a statement, the sentence ends with a period instead of a question mark. For example:
Normal question: Where does he live?
Embedded question in a statement: I don't know where he lives.
Here, 'where he lives' is the object.
Embedded question in a statement: Where he lives is unclear.
Here 'where he lives' is the subject.
Warning!
Do not confuse embedded questions with nominal relative clauses. While both act as nouns in sentences, nominal relatives are not interrogative in nature. Nominal relative clauses can be paraphrased as a noun phrase with a relative clauses as its modifier. But the same can't be true for embedded questions. Look at the examples:
I liked what she said.
This is a nominal relative clause, you can paraphrase the sentence as "I liked the thing that she said."
I don't know what she said.
This is an embedded question, you cannot say "I don't know the thing she said."
Embedded Questions: Uses
Embedded questions can be used to:
Be Polite
Express doubt or curiosity
Change direct speech to indirect speech
To Be Polite
As mentioned earlier, embedded questions can be used to sound more polite, for example:
Normal question: Do you have a watch?
Embedded question: Could you tell me if you have a watch?
To Express Doubt or Curiosity
Sometimes embedded questions express doubt or curiosity, for example:
I wonder if they arrived safely.
Here, it expresses curiosity.
I don't know whether she liked me or not.
Here, it shows doubt
I'd like to know when we arrive at the airport.
To Change Direct Speech To Indirect Speech
Embedded questions can be used in order to change direct speech to indirect speech, as you can see in the following examples:
Direct: What do you want to eat?
Indirect: They asked me what I wanted to eat.
Direct: when do you leave?
indirect: He asked me when I leave.
Review
Embedded questions follow an introductory clause and, unlike direct questions, follow the normal word order. They are used to sound more polite or express doubt and uncertainty. Embedded questions can take two forms:
part of another question
part of a statement
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences correctly uses an embedded question?
Can you tell me where does she work?
I don’t know what time is it.
Do you know whether she will be there or not?
She asked me where did I buy my shoes.
Sort the words to form a correct embedded question
Match each incomplete sentence with the correct ending to form an embedded question.
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the embedded question.
Where does she work? → I’m not sure
.
Did he finish his homework? → Do you know if
?
What should we do next? → I wonder
.
Is she coming to the wedding? → Do you know whether
?
Identify the error in the following embedded question: "Can you tell me how can I solve this problem?"
Keeping the question word order after the introductory clause
Using "can" instead of "could"
Using a question mark at the end
There is no error
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