Grammar Lesson: Embedded Questions

1. Embedded
Questions
Iran Razcon

2. Embedded Questions
● Questions inside another
questions.​
● *Inside a statement​.
● *Inside another question.​
Ex: Do you know when do
we leave for vacations?​
- I don't know what day
Christmas is.
● Use them to:
- Express something you don't
know.​
- Ask for information politely.​
Ex: Do you know if that
present is for me?

3. Phrases Introducing Embedded Questions
I don't know
I don't understand
I wonder
I'm not sure
I can't remember
I cant imagine
It doesn't say
I'd like to know
I want to understand
I'd like to find out
We need to find out
Let's ask
Do you know…?
Do you understand…?
Can you tell me…?
Could you explain...?
Can you remember…?
Would you show me…?
Who knows…?

4. Yes/No Questions
Begin with if, whether or whether or not​.
Note: Whether is more formal than if.
Direct yes/no question
Are we eating soup today?
IAre we having homework?
Main Clause Embedded yes/no question
I`d like to know if we are eating soup today
We need to find out whether or not we’re having
homework

5. Wh- questions
Begin with a wh-word (who, why, how much)
Direct Wh- question
What Katy Perry song are we
singing?
Why do we open the presents at
midnight?
Main Clause Embedded Wh- question
I wonder what Katy Perry song we are
singing.
Could you explain why we open the presents at
midnight?

6. Embedded questions
● Use statement word order
(subject+verb), for all embedded
questions.​
● Do NOT use auxiliary verbs (do,
does, did)​
● If a direct question has the form
be+noun, then the embedded
question has the form noun+be.
Ex: Is Arely going to the party?
I am not sure if Arely is going to the
party.
Ex: Do we have to drink orange juice?
Let`s ask if we have to drink orange
juice.
Ex: Why isn't she wearing a coat?
Can you tell me why she isn't wearing a
coat?

7. ● Question word + infinitive
Ex: Let’s ask where we should buy
chocolate.
Let’s ask where to buy
chocolate.
● Whether+infinitive
Ex: I wonder whether I should leave
cookies for my brother.
I wonder whether to leave
cookies for my brother.
In embedded questions, you can also use:
BE CAREFUL! Do NOT use the
infinitive after if or why.
-I don’t understand why I should give
a present.
NOT: I don’t understand why to give
a present.

8. Embedded questions often follow these
phrases:
STATEMENTS:
I don’t know… I’m not sure…​
I don’t know what the name of all
my classmates.​
I don’t understand… I
wonder…​
I wonder where the shoes are.​
I’d like to know… Let’s ask…​
Let’s ask what time the dinner is.