Introduction to embedded questions structure

An embedded question is one which is included in a sentence or another question. The word order is not that of typical questions, except for subject questions. Study the following rule.

                         Subject + verb(phrase)+ question word + subject + verb

Note: There must not be an auxiliary between the question word and the subject in an embedded question.

For example:

• We haven’t ascertained where the meeting will take place.
• The authorities cannot figure out why the plane landed at the wrong airport.

The following rule applies if the embedded question is embedded in another question.

                         Auxiliary + subject + verb + question word + subject + verb

• Do you know where he went?
• Could you tell me what time it is?

Note: Question words can be single words or phrases. Phrases include: whose + noun, how many, how long, how often, how much, what kind, what time,.

For example;

• The professor didn’t know how many students would be in her afternoon class.
• I have no idea how long the interview will take.
• Do they know how often the bus runs at night?
• Can you tell me how far the museum is from the college?
• I’ll tell you what kind of ice cream testes best.
• The teacher asked us whose book was no his desk.

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