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    Study Zone: Embedded Questions

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    George L Pastor
    This document discusses embedded questions, which are questions included within other sentences or questions. There are five rules for using embedded questions: 1) use a period instead of a question mark if the embedded question is part of a statement; 2) reverse subject and auxiliary verb positions; 3) do not use contractions; 4) use whether, whether or not, or if for yes/no questions; and 5) the infinitive can follow question words or whether. Embedded questions are used to politely ask for information or discuss something unknown to the speaker.

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    Study Zone: Embedded Questions

    Uploaded by

    George L Pastor
    99 views3 pages
    This document discusses embedded questions, which are questions included within other sentences or questions. There are five rules for using embedded questions: 1) use a period instead of a question mark if the embedded question is part of a statement; 2) reverse subject and auxiliary verb positions; 3) do not use contractions; 4) use whether, whether or not, or if for yes/no questions; and 5) the infinitive can follow question words or whether. Embedded questions are used to politely ask for information or discuss something unknown to the speaker.

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    This document discusses embedded questions, which are questions included within other sentences or questions. There are five rules for using embedded questions: 1) use a period instead of a question mark if the embedded question is part of a statement; 2) reverse subject and auxiliary verb positions; 3) do not use contractions; 4) use whether, whether or not, or if for yes/no questions; and 5) the infinitive can follow question words or whether. Embedded questions are used to politely ask for information or discuss something unknown to the speaker.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    99 views3 pages

    Study Zone: Embedded Questions

    Uploaded by

    George L Pastor
    This document discusses embedded questions, which are questions included within other sentences or questions. There are five rules for using embedded questions: 1) use a period instead of a question mark if the embedded question is part of a statement; 2) reverse subject and auxiliary verb positions; 3) do not use contractions; 4) use whether, whether or not, or if for yes/no questions; and 5) the infinitive can follow question words or whether. Embedded questions are used to politely ask for information or discuss something unknown to the speaker.

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    of 3

    2/4/2020 ELC Study Zone: Embedded Questions

    study zone
    Home » Level 410 — Intermediate » Grammar Topics » Embedded Questions

    Embedded Questions

    Introduction
    An embedded question is a question that is included inside another question or statement. They are common after introductory phrases,
    such as:

    I wonder
    Could you tell me
    Do you know
    Can you remember
    Let's ask
    We need to find out
    I'd like to know
    Could you tell me
    I'm not sure
    Would you mind explaining

    Five Rules for Using Embedded Questions


    Rule One
    If the embedded question is part of a statement, use a period and not a question mark at the end of the sentence. Also, if the question
    is in the present or past simple verb tense, omit the auxiliary verbs do, does, and did and change the verb to its appropriate form, as in
    the example below.

    Direct Question What time did he leave?

    Embedded Question I wonder what time he left.

    Rule Two
    If the embedded question includes an auxiliary verb or the verb "to be", reverse the positions of the subject and the auxiliary verb, as in
    the examples below.

    Direct Question What did he say?

    Embedded Question Could you tell me what he said?

    Direct Question Can you help me?

    Embedded Question I wonder if you could help me.

    Direct Question Is he a doctor?

    Embedded Question Do you know if he is a doctor?


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    2/4/2020 ELC Study Zone: Embedded Questions

    Rule Three
    Do not use a verbal contraction at the end of the sentence.

    Direct Question Where is she?

    Correct Embedded Question Do you know where he is?

    Incorrect Embedded Question Do you know where he's?

    Rule Four
    Embedded questions are introduced by whether, whether or not, and if when there is no question word in the sentence (yes/no
    questions).

    Direct Yes/No Question Will he be there?

    Do you know if he will be there?


    Embedded Question Do you know whether or not he will be there?
    Do you know whether he will be there or not?

    Rule Five
    The infinitive can follow a question word or whether in embedded questions, as in the following example.

    Direct Question What should I do?

    Embedded Question Please tell me what I should do.

    Embedded Question with an Infinitive Please tell me what to do.

    Using Embedded Questions


    There are times when native English speakers prefer to use embedded rather than direct questions. Here are two examples.

    1. Politely Asking for Information

    Direct Question What time does the bus arrive?

    Could you tell me what time the bus arrives?


    Embedded Question
    (more polite)

    2. Talking About Something Which Is Unknown to the Speaker

    Direct Question Why did she decide not to come with us?

    Embedded Question I don't know why she decided not to come with us.

    Note: The embedded question is in a statement , so it ends with a period, not a question mark.

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    2/4/2020 ELC Study Zone: Embedded Questions

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