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English grammar

Asking carefully: indirect and embedded questions

B2 · Upper intermediate Asking questions Questions 10

The rule

An embedded question loses its inversion and its do. Where is the office? becomes Could you tell me where the office is? A yes-or-no question takes if or whether — and only whether can go before to or after a preposition: the question of whether to appeal. The politeness comes from the frame, not from please: I was wondering whether…, Would you mind telling me…, Do you happen to know…. At B2 this is the difference between asking and demanding.

Pattern

Could you tell me + wh-word + subject + verb · I wonder whether / if … · Do you happen to know … · whether (not if) before to and after a preposition

Examples

  1. Could you tell me when the decision will be made?

  2. I was wondering whether the fee is refundable.

  3. There is the question of whether to appeal at all.

  4. Do you happen to know who handled the file?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Could you tell me where is the office?

    Right: Could you tell me where the office is?

    An embedded question takes statement order.

  • Wrong: I wonder if to appeal.

    Right: I wonder whether to appeal.

    Only whether can stand before to.

  • Wrong: Do you know what does it cost?

    Right: Do you know what it costs?

    The embedded clause drops do.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Could you tell me how much costs it?
    2. Could you tell me how much it does cost?
    3. Could you tell me how much it costs?
    4. Could you tell me how much does it cost?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Could you tell me how much it costs?

    Statement order inside the embedded question.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I would like to know whether does the survey finished.
    2. I would like to know is whether the survey finished.
    3. I would like to know whether is the survey finished.
    4. I would like to know whether the survey is finished.
    Show answer

    Answer: D I would like to know whether the survey is finished.

    whether plus statement order.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Do you happen to know did who sign it?
    2. Do you happen know who signed it?
    3. Do you happen to know who did sign it?
    4. Do you happen to know who signed it?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Do you happen to know who signed it?

    happen to know is a polite frame.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    Could you tell me what time _____ ?

    1. does the office close
    2. closes the office
    3. the office closes
    4. the office does close
    Show answer

    Answer: C Could you tell me what time the office closes ?

    No inversion in the embedded clause.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    I was wondering _____ you had a moment.

    1. whether
    2. what
    3. that
    4. did
    Show answer

    Answer: A I was wondering whether you had a moment.

    A yes-or-no question takes whether or if.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    It depends on _____ the grant is renewed.

    1. what
    2. if
    3. whether
    4. that
    Show answer

    Answer: C It depends on whether the grant is renewed.

    After a preposition only whether is possible.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    Would you mind _____ me how long it takes?

    1. telling
    2. to tell
    3. that you tell
    4. tell
    Show answer

    Answer: A Would you mind telling me how long it takes?

    Would you mind takes -ing.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    Nobody could tell us why _____ .

    1. did it refuse
    2. was it refused
    3. it had been refused
    4. had it been refused
    Show answer

    Answer: C Nobody could tell us why it had been refused .

    The embedded clause keeps statement order.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I wonder if to write again.
    2. I am wondering whether to write again.
    3. I wonder whether I should write again.
    4. I wonder whether to write again.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I wonder if to write again.

    if cannot precede to.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. Do you happen to know where he lives?
    2. Where does he live?
    3. Do you know where he lives?
    4. Do you know where does he live?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Do you know where does he live?

    The embedded question drops does.

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