7.3: Embedded Questions-Wh-Clauses
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- 273183
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Grammar Presentation-Embedded Questions
Embedded questions are noun clauses, which are dependent clauses. Embedded questions use statement word order as opposed to question word order. They can function as the subject, direct or indirect object, or an adjective complement.
Question: Where is my shoe?
Subject: Where my shoe is will eventually be determined.
Object: I don’t know where my shoe is.
Object of a preposition: I would like you to focus on where my shoe is.
Adjective complement: It is unclear where my shoe is.
For more information on this topic, watch these videos: Noun Clauses with Wh-Words and Noun Clauses with if or whether
Read the sentences and think about the function of each embedded question. Is it a subject? object?
1. Unfortunately, no matter how you feel, you cannot choose when you will start to experience changes or what will happen. (Paragraph 1)
2. You begin to think more often about abstract ideas, such as love and beauty, rather than thinking just about what you can see and feel. (Paragraph 4)
3. If I asked you when you were seven years old what your favorite song was, you might respond with a song from the 80s or 90s. (Paragraph 5)
4. This is what people usually refer to when talking about “puberty.” (Paragraph 6)
5. These are just a few examples of how much your body changes during this time period. (Paragraph 7)
6. Why you feel these things can seem like a mystery. (Paragraph 8)
7. In fact, it’s always good to talk about what you’re going through. (Paragraph 10)
8. You might feel like you don’t recognize yourself and have no control over what’s happening. (Paragraph 10)
9. The more people talk about these things, the more everyone will realize how normal it is. (Paragraph 10)
Patterns and Examples
Question: Question word + auxiliary + subject + verb?
What does she study?
Embedded Question-[Subject]: [Question word + subject + verb] + verb.
What she studies is difficult.
Embedded Question-[Object]: Subject + verb + [question word + subject + verb].
I wonder what she studies.
Embedded Question-[Adjective Complement]: It + be verb + adjective + [question word + subject + verb].
It was obvious what she studies.
Note on Dependent Clauses
There are three types of dependent clauses: noun, adjective, and adverb. All three types might use the same word as a relative pronoun or subordinating conjunction.
Noun Clause: When they will arrive is unknown.
Adjective Clause: The day when they arrived was hectic.
Adverb Clause: When they arrive, we will begin.
Notice how all of the dependent clauses begin with “when”. Another common word used by noun and adjective clauses is “that”. Being able to distinguish the difference between adjective and noun clauses can be useful for reading comprehension. Also, understanding the differences between the dependent clauses will help you in word order and punctuation when writing.
Exercise 6-Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences with the appropriate form of an embedded question.
1. I can’t remember __________.
a. which book did he want you to buy
b. which book he wanted you to buy
2. They didn’t tell me __________.
a. why aren’t your friends at home studying
b. why didn’t your friends at home studying
c. why your friends aren’t at home studying
3. Did he tell you __________?
a. what did he find
b. what he found
c. what he finds
4. I know __________.
a . how many states are there
b. how many states there are
5. Guess __________!
a. what did I buy
b. what I buy
c. what I bought
6. It’s none of your business __________.
a. how old am I
b. how old I am
7. They were warned about __________.
a. which neighbors should I avoid
b. which neighbors I should avoid
8. The children are excited about __________.
a. where they will go trick-or-treating
b. where will they go trick-or-treating
9. My friend will be mad at his brother for __________.
a. what did he say to their mother
b. what he says to their mother
c. what he said to their mother
10. I will ask her __________.
a. where is the best sushi restaurant
b. where the best sushi restaurant is
11. __________ depends on your preparation.
a. How long it will take
b. How long will it take
12. __________ seems obvious.
a. How he can fix his relationship
b. How can he fix his relationship
13. __________ changes every year.
a. When do Muslims celebrate Eid
b. When Muslims celebrate Eid
14. Do you know __________?
a. what we will have for dinner
b. what will we have for dinner
15. Can you tell me __________?
a. where is the nearest restroom
b. where the nearest restroom is
16. I don’t care __________.
a. which topic he chooses
b. which topic does he choose
c. which topic does he chooses
Exercise 7: Answer the following questions with the words given.
Examples:
Who is your teacher? I don’t remember –
I don’t remember who my teacher is.
Whose car was he driving? Do you remember -
Do you remember whose car he was driving?
- What did he find? Did he tell you -
- Why weren’t your friends at home studying? They didn’t tell me –
- Who drank Dad’s coffee? I don’t know –
- How many students are there in your English class? I think –
- What did your brother cook for his girlfriend? Do you know –
- When is the next election? I would like to know–
- Where can I buy some good shoes? Can you suggest –
- What did your friend want? I am not sure –
- Where is the closest gas station? I wonder -
- Who will you marry? I don’t know –
- How much did his new car cost? He didn’t say –
Exercise 8-Objects of Prepositions
Use the questions to create statements with embedded questions as object of prepositions. Use the example to guide you.
Example: Question-What languages does she speak at home?
Answer-I am interested in what languages she speaks at home.
1. Question: Where will I see him?
Answer: I think about
2. Question: Who is your teacher?
Answer: I was surprised about
3. Question: Whose car was he driving?
Answer: I am unaware of
4. Question: Why are they smiling?
Answer: I am interested in
5. Question: Where are you in your career?
Answer: I am proud of
“Grammar Presentation-Embedded Questions” is derived from “ESL for High-Intermediate Students: The Way You Like It” by Don Bissonette licensed under CC BY-NC
Exercise 9-Editing Embedded Questions
Identify and correct embedded question errors in the paragraph about age ceremonies across cultures.
All children around the world eventually become adolescents; however, when is their coming of age celebrated depends on their culture. In the Jewish
faith, 12 to 13-year-old boys and girls participate in a celebration called a Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Jewish historians offer many theories on how did this
celebration began, but it rose in importance during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the Christian faith, 14-year-old boys and girls participate in the ritual
of confirmation. Confirmation is what does signals the adolescent is a full member of society. A girl’s 15th birthday is when do many Latin American cultures
celebrate a girl’s passage to womanhood. However, various Latin American cultures differ in how do they celebrate the Quinceañera. Finally, the United
States celebrates boys and girls at 16 years old (“sweet sixteen”). Why are adolescents celebrated at 16 in America is unknown, but some speculate that
16 gives adolescents freedom since they are allowed to get their driver’s license. Becoming an adult means having the freedom to choose what do you want
to do with life. However, these ceremonies mean taking new responsibilities. What do these ceremonies demonstrate is that becoming an adult is an entire
community of friends, family, and neighbors.
“Editing Embedded Questions” is derived from “Coming of Age Ceremonies Across Different Cultures” by Thomas Pool licensed by CommonLit under CC BY-NC-SA.
Communication Practice
Exercise 10-What Do You Know?
Complete the sentences and compare with a partner.
1. I don’t know
2. I want to know
3. Do you know
4. I wonder
5. Can you tell me
Exercise 11-I’m Not Sure…
Ask your classmate questions they may not know the answer to. Respond to your classmates’ questions using embedded questions. Use the example to guide you.
Examples:
1. What is the capital of Alaska?
Answer: I’m not sure what the capital of Alaska is. Maybe Fairbanks? Oh! It’s Juneau!
2. What is [classmate’s name]’s favorite drink?
Answer: I don’t know what [classmate’s name]’s favorite drink it, but I’ll ask!
Questions to ask your partner/group members:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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