Embedded Questions

Preview　（腕試し）

Which of the following sentences are natural?

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1. I wonder what is this.

2. Could you tell me what time is it?

3. Do you know what this is?

4. I can't remember where my textbook is.

5. Could you tell me what time it is?

A. 1 & 2

B. 3, 4 & 5

C. 1, 2 & 4

D. none

　

Quick Glossary （用語辞典）

verb = 動詞

　

Explanation （説明）

The regular question form is:

What is this?

When we put this question inside another sentence, the word order of the question changes. For example, if we use the phrase "do you know," we get the following sentence:

Do you know what this is?

Other phrases like "do you know" include:

• I wonder
• I want to know
• I can remember
• can you tell me
• I know I don't know
• do you know
• I'd like to know

These kinds of questions can be divided into two main groups: "be" verbs and action verbs.

1. Question with the "be" verb

What time is it? --> Do you know what time it is?

Where is my watch? --> I don't know where my watch is.

What is that? --> Could you tell me what that is?

2. Question with an action verb

Where does she live? --> I wonder where she lives.

What did he buy? --> I wonder what he bought.

　

Exercises（練習）Choose the best answer.

1. Sally talked to someone. Do you know who she talked to she talked to who ?

2. Keiko sang a song. I wonder what was that song what that song was .

3. A: Craig bought something interesting. .....B: Oh, really? What did he buy What he boughts ?

4. Could you please tell me where the train station is where is the train station ?

5. I heard someone at the door. I wonder who is it who it is .

6. Excuse me. What time it is What time is it ?

7. Naomi told me where we would meet, but I can't remember what she said what did she say .

8. I don't know why is Shotoku Taishi famous why Shotoku Taishi is famous , so I'm going to read a book about him.

9. Atsuko said something about my lesson. I'd really like to know what did she say what she said .

10. I'm not wearing my watch today. Could you please tell me what time it is what time is it ?

　

Answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.