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Understanding Embedded Questions

Embedded questions are questions included within other questions or statements. They are commonly used after introductory phrases and are generally preceded by words like "I wonder", "Could you tell me", etc. There are five rules for using embedded questions: 1) Be polite when asking for information, 2) Use when something is unknown to the speaker, 3) Omit auxiliary verbs in simple tenses, 4) Use "if" instead of question words like "where", and 5) Can end with an infinitive like "what to do".

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Paola López
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163 views15 pages

Understanding Embedded Questions

Embedded questions are questions included within other questions or statements. They are commonly used after introductory phrases and are generally preceded by words like "I wonder", "Could you tell me", etc. There are five rules for using embedded questions: 1) Be polite when asking for information, 2) Use when something is unknown to the speaker, 3) Omit auxiliary verbs in simple tenses, 4) Use "if" instead of question words like "where", and 5) Can end with an infinitive like "what to do".

Uploaded by

Paola López
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Embedded questions

and statements
Paola López Sánchez

Universidad Autónoma de
Querétaro
what they are?

An embedded question is a question that is


included inside another question or statement.
They are common after introductory phrases, such as...

Embedded inquiry sentences are generally


preceded by common opening words

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
when to use them?

1. Politely Asking for Information


Direct Question What time does the bus arrive?
Embedded Question Could you tell me what time the bus arrives?
(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.
(statement)
Rule 1 to use Direct Question
What time did he leave?

Embedded Question
I wonder what time he left.

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


Rule 2
Direct Question
What did he say?

Embedded Question

Direct Question
Could you tell me what he said?

Is he a doctor?

Direct Question Embedded Question


Can you help me? Do you know if he is a doctor?

Embedded Question
I wonder if you could help me.

Direct Question
Rule 3
Where is he ?

Correct Embedded Question


Do you know where he is ?

Incorrect Embedded Question


Do you know where he´s?

Rule 4

Question
Direct Yes/No
Will he be there?

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

Direct Question
What should I do?

Embedded Question
Please tell me what I should do.

Embedded Question with an Infinitive


Rule 5 Please tell me what to do.

Exercises !

Exercises !

Thanks for
your attention

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