Indirect or Embedded Questions

What? When? Why? How?Debbie Lahav

BEW Lesson 4

What are indirect or embedded questions?

These are sentences that ask a question in an indirect way and are part of a longer sentence.

Do you know what time the staff meeting begins?

Could you please explain what they are going to discussed at the conference?

I was wondering why we need to do all the writing tasks?

When do we use indirect or embedded questions?

We use indirect or embedded questions in polite and formal situations – in writing and in speaking.

What do you think we should write

next?

Would you please share your

experience with us?

Would you be wiling to come to our school and

give a lecture?

We were wondering if you could send us a brochure with your

newest products?

Why do we use indirect or embedded questions?

We use them to soften our request or to make our request more polite or more formal.

What are they going to discuss at the conference? OR

Could you please explain what they are going to discuss at the conference?

What time is the staff meeting?OR

Do you know what time the staff meeting begins?

Why do we need to do all the writing tasks?OR

I was wondering why we need to do all the writing tasks?

Compare the two. Which is more polite?

How do we form indirect or embedded questions?

The sentences have 2 clauses – one that is an introduction (to soften) and one that is the request (to ask for something).

Do you know what time the staff meeting begins?

I was wondering why we need to do all the writing tasks?

Could you please explain what they are going to discuss at the conference?

How do we form indirect or embedded questions?

But Debbie, something doesn’t make sense? The introductory part of the sentence is a question and the other part is not a question!!!!

Great observation! Do you know what time the staff meeting begins?That is the trick that softens the request! Let’s take a closer look at how it works.

How do we form indirect or embedded questions?

What time does the staff meeting begin?

Do you know what time the staff meeting begins?

A regular question in English is formed by using a Wh-word/phrase, a helping verb + Subject + verb phrase.

In indirect questions, we make the introduction the question, add a Wh-word and then a statement.

Good manners, polite requests

= cultural

understanding and good business

Now you are ready to go!