Forums » ESL Basic and Easy English ONLY » ESL Basic English Grammar Questions and Help » Embedded Questions

Embedded Questions
   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #201709  Tue, 28 Feb 06 06:14 AM

I am looking for some rules or reasons behind the following:

I'm not sure____________

a) where they live - Correct

b) where do the live - X

She doesn't know______

a) when the store opens - Correct

b) when does the store open - X

I would like  to know what grammar rule makes a correct and not b. 

Thanks,

Bernie
  
This is a live chat room, hosted on the chat page. You can also click here to see the chat in fullscreen.
CalifJim  #201729  Tue, 28 Feb 06 07:09 AM
Subject-auxiliary verb inversion is used only in direct questions, not in indirect (embedded) questions.

The store opens ...
I don't know when the store opens.  (No inversion, because it's indirect.)
The store does open ...  (Expand opens into does open in preparation for the inversion process.*)
When does the store open?  (Invert the order of subject and auxiliary verb.)

They live ...
I have no idea where they live.  (No inversion, because it's indirect.)
They do live ... (Expand live into do live in preparation for the inversion process.*)
Where do they live? (Invert the order of subject and auxiliary verb.)

They have put the book ...
I'm not sure where they have put the book.
They have put the book ... (No expansion needed for inversion because have is already an auxiliary verb.)
Where have they put the book?

*This step is needed because the original form has no auxiliary verb to invert with the subject.

CJ
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member (16,970)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
, ,
Anonymous  #202016  Wed, 01 Mar 06 04:16 AM
What are embedded questions? 
  
CalifJim  #202046  Wed, 01 Mar 06 06:14 AM
who they are, what they do, when they go, where they go, whether they know, and similar clauses in sentences like

I don't know who they are.  I don't know what they do.  ...
Can you tell me who they are?  Can you tell me what they do?  Can you tell me when they go? ...
He has not considered who they are.  .....  He has not considered whether they know.
I found out who they are. ... I found out where they go.
... No one has any idea where they go.  ...
Did anybody tell you what they do?  Did anybody tell you whether they know?

These are embedded (or indirect) questions.  As you can see from the examples, they can be embedded in statements or in other questions.

CJ
  
Anonymous  #250673  Mon, 31 Jul 06 05:35 AM

All the above "correct" sentences are embedded.  Embedded means hidden or indirect.

THese questions are hidden within a regular sentence, therefore using regular sentence format.  (subject-verb-object)

So, they are not inverted as in question format.

also, DOES is NEVER EVER EVER used in Embedded questions.

THe rule is and format is as follows:

Introductory Phrase      Question WOrd      Subject      Verb          Rest of Sentence (object) ( . )  NO question mark. 

Can you tell me               where               the store            is.          ---------------

I'm wondering                where                   Lisa             is going           tonight.

Hope that helps. 

  
,
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL Basic English Grammar Questions and Help
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service