Embedded Questions
An embedded question is mainly a wh-question which is added to another direct question or included in a statement. An embedded question functions as a sub-ordinating noun clause.
An embedded question is different from a direct question in form or structure. In a direct question, the verb is before the subject. But the subject verb inversion is not applicable to an embedded question. Rather, embedded questions follow the pattern of statements. That is, the verb is after the subject.
Direct Question: Why did you tell a lie?
Embedded Question: I know why you told a lie.
Direct Question: How has the thief fled?
Embedded Question: Tell me how the thief has fled.
Note that we do not use a question mark at the end of an embedded question if it is the part of a statement.
Use of Embedded Questions
We use embedded questions after certain verbs like:
We use embedded questions after certain expressions like:
Rules to Remember:
Wrong: I don't know why he comes here?
Right: I don't know why he comes here.
Wrong: I'm not sure when he will come?
Right: I'm not sure when he will come.
Wrong: Do you know where he comes.
Right: Do you know where he comes?
Wrong: Can you tell me whom he loves.
Right: Can you tell me whom he loves?
Wrong: Tell me what have you seen?
Right: Tell me what you have seen.
Wrong: What surprised me most is how did he react?
Right: What surprised me most is how he reacted.
Wrong: Tell us where he's.
Right: Tell us where he is.
Wrong: Ask them how they're.
Right: Ask them how they're.
He asked me if I was present there.
She wanted to know whether she should stay there.
Online Test on Embedded Questions
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