GLOW: Grammar Lessons On the Web

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Embedded Questions

An embedded question is a question that is included in another sentence.

Question

Embedded Question

Who is your teacher?

Could you tell me who your teacher is?

What time is it?

Do you know what time it is?

When is Jim going home?

I don't know when Jim is going home.

Notice the shift in the verb when you embed an information question:

1.  Who is your teacher?
     Could you tell me who your teacher is?

2.  What time is it?
     Do you know what time it is?

3.  When is Jim going home?
      I don't know when Jim is going home.

Use normal sentence order, not question order, with embedded questions.

Note: If the embedding question is included in a question, it is followed by a question mark. If it is in a statement, use a period.

Embedding yes/no questions

Use if or whether to embed questions that are answered with yes or no.

Question

Embedded yes/no Question

Are you hungry?

I asked you if you were hungry.

Do you want to stay at the party?

Would you please ask Duane if he wants to stay at the party?

Am I going?

Stan doesn't know whether I'm going.
Stan doesn't know whether I'm going or not.

Were you in the Army?

You didn't tell me whether you were in the Army.
You didn't tell me whether you were in the Army or not.

Notice that if is usually used with only one alternative:

I asked you if you were hungry.

Would you please ask Duane if he wants to stay at the party?

Whether usually provides for more than one alternative.

Stan doesn't know whether I'm going.
Stan doesn't know whether I'm going or not.

You didn't tell me whether you were in the Army.
You didn't tell me whether you were in the Army or not.

The same is true in information questions:
 

Question

Embedded Question

Do you want the red dress or the blue one?

I don't know whether you want the red dress or the blue one.

Does Reggie plan to stay in school or get a job?

Dad asked whether Reggie planned to stay in school or get a job.

Using an infinitive in an embedded question

English speakers often use an infinitive after the question word in an embedded question.

Question

Embedded Question

How do you change the ink in the copier?

I don't know how to change the ink in the copier.

Should I call Mr. Abbey now or wait until later?

I don't know whether to call Mr. Abbey now or wait until later.

Where should we meet Carole in the morning?

Ask Carole where to meet her in the morning.

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are like indirect speech. When a question is in the present tense, it is in the past when it is embedded in a sentence. If it is in the past, it must be in the past perfect when it is embedded in a sentence.
 

Question

Embedded Question

Do you like your job?

She asked me if I liked my job.

Did you like your last job?

She asked me if I had liked my last job.

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