How do you use "Embedded questions" in a sentence?

I don't know where he lives. Could you tell me what time the meeting starts? She wondered whether she should go. The question is what we should do next.

Embedded questions

Q: What does "Embedded questions" mean?

Questions within statements or other questions Embedded questions have statement word order: 'I wonder where she is' (not 'where is she'). 'Do you know what time it is?' After reporting verbs: 'She asked what I wanted.' No question mark if main clause is statement.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: Questions within statements or other questions

陈述句或其他问句中的问句

Preguntas dentro de declaraciones u otras preguntas

平叙文または他の疑問文の中の疑問文

평서문이나 다른 의문문 안에 포함된 의문문

Embedded questions have statement word order: 'I wonder where she is' (not 'where is she'). 'Do you know what time it is?' After reporting verbs: 'She asked what I wanted.' No question mark if main clause is statement.

嵌入式问句使用陈述句语序：'I wonder where she is'（不是'where is she'）。'Do you know what time it is?' 在转述动词后：'She asked what I wanted.' 如果主句是陈述句，则不用问号。

Las preguntas incrustadas tienen orden de declaración: 'I wonder where she is' (no 'where is she'). 'Do you know what time it is?' Después de verbos de reporte: 'She asked what I wanted.' Sin signo de interrogación si la cláusula principal es declaración.

埋め込み疑問文は平叙文の語順を使います：「I wonder where she is」（「where is she」ではない）。「Do you know what time it is?」報告動詞の後：「She asked what I wanted.」主節が平叙文なら疑問符は不要。

간접 의문문은 평서문 어순을 따릅니다: 'I wonder where she is' ('where is she'가 아님). 'Do you know what time it is?' 전달 동사 뒤에: 'She asked what I wanted.' 주절이 평서문이면 물음표를 쓰지 않습니다.

Examples

I don't know where he lives.
我不知道他住在哪里。
No sé dónde vive.
彼がどこに住んでいるか知らない。
그가 어디 사는지 모르겠다.
Could you tell me what time the meeting starts?
你能告诉我会议什么时候开始吗？
¿Podría decirme a qué hora empieza la reunión?
会議が何時に始まるか教えていただけますか？
회의가 몇 시에 시작하는지 알려주시겠습니까?
She wondered whether she should go.
她不知道是否该去。
Ella se preguntaba si debería ir.
彼女は行くべきかどうか悩んでいた。
그녀는 가야 할지 말아야 할지 고민했다.
The question is what we should do next.
问题是我们接下来该做什么。
La pregunta es qué deberíamos hacer a continuación.
問題は次に何をすべきかだ。
문제는 다음에 무엇을 해야 하느냐이다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: polite

✓ Do Say

I wonder what she thinks.
我想知道她在想什么。
Me pregunto qué piensa ella.
彼女が何を考えているか気になる。
그녀가 어떻게 생각하는지 궁금하다.
Do you know where the station is?
你知道车站在哪里吗？
¿Sabes dónde está la estación?
駅がどこにあるか知っていますか？
역이 어디인지 아시나요?
Could you tell me how much it costs?
你能告诉我这个多少钱吗？
¿Podrías decirme cuánto cuesta?
いくらするか教えていただけますか？
얼마인지 알려주시겠습니까?

✗ Don't Say

I wonder where is she? (statement order: 'she is')
I wonder where is she?（应使用陈述语序'she is'）
I wonder where is she? (usar orden de declaración: 'she is')
I wonder where is she?（平叙文の語順「she is」を使う）
I wonder where is she? (평서문 어순: 'she is'로 써야 함)
Tell me what is the time. (use 'what the time is')
Tell me what is the time.（应使用'what the time is'）
Tell me what is the time. (usar 'what the time is')
Tell me what is the time.（「what the time is」を使う）
Tell me what is the time. ('what the time is'로 써야 함)

Origin & History

Indirect question structure

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal