Explanation
Exercises
Embedded (Indirect) Questions — polite frames & word order
B1 Upper-Intermediate Polite English

When do we use embedded questions?

  • Politeness Softer, more respectful requests: Could you tell me…?
  • Professional tone Emails, customer support, formal talk.
  • Information inside a sentence after verbs like know, wonder, ask, explain, remember.

An embedded question is a clause inside another sentence, not a stand-alone question.

Core patterns (no inversion inside the embedded part)

TypePatternExample
With a question word frame + Q-word + subject + verb What time is it? ➜ Could you tell me what time it is?
Yes/No meaning frame + if/whether + subject + verb Is it open? ➜ Do you know whether it’s open?
Be as a main verb Keep subject + be (statement order) ✔ Can you tell me where the station is? ✖ …where is the station?

Inside the embedded clause we use statement word order: subject + verb (no do/does/did inversion).

Useful “frames” (openers)

  • Can/Could you tell me…
  • Do you know… / Do you happen to know…
  • I’d like to know… / I’d love to know…
  • I’m not sure… / I wonder…
  • Would you mind telling me…

These frames are followed by an embedded clause in statement order.

if or whether?

  • Both are fine after common frames: Do you know if/whether he’s in?
  • Prefer whether before or not: We’re not sure whether it’s open or not.
  • Prefer whether after a preposition: It depends on whether we get tickets.
  • Prefer whether with infinitives: She hasn’t decided whether to apply.

Prepositions & formality

Everyday English keeps the preposition at the end:

  • Could you tell me who you spoke to?

More formal style moves it before the question word (and often uses whom):

  • Could you tell me to whom you spoke?

Punctuation

  • Frame is a question ➜ end with ?
    Could you tell me where the ATM is?
  • Frame is a statement ➜ end with .
    I wonder where the ATM is.

Subject questions inside embeddings

If the question word is the subject, we still use normal statement order in the clause.

  • ✔ Tell me who called. ✖ …who did call?
  • ✔ Do you know which team won?

Tense choices in embedded questions

  • Still true now Keep the present: Did you say where he is?
  • Past-time context Past is natural: I asked where he was.

This is similar to reported speech, but the goal here is polite information, not quoting.

No inversion or do-support inside the clause

WrongCorrectWhy
Do you know where can I park? Do you know where I can park? Modal follows the subject.
Can you tell me when does the shop open? Can you tell me when the shop opens? No do/does/did in the embedded clause.
Please explain why are they late. Please explain why they are late. Keep statement order with be.

More examples

  • I don’t know what he’s doing here.
  • I’m wondering when he’ll tell the truth.
  • I’m not sure when I can come.
  • I’d like to know where you left the documents.
  • Do you know if/whether he’ll be here soon?

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • ❌ Do you know where is the bank?
    ✔ Do you know where the bank is?
  • ❌ Could you tell me what time do the shops close?
    ✔ Could you tell me what time the shops close?
  • ❌ Using a question mark after a statement frame: I wonder where it is?
    ✔ I wonder where it is.
  • ❌ Forgetting if/whether in Yes/No meaning: Do you know he’s coming?
    ✔ Do you know whether he’s coming?
Exercises:
1
2
3

Embedded (Indirect) Questions

Choose the correct forms to complete the following questions. There are direct and indirect questions.
1
Do you know what time tomorrow?
2
I can’t find my keys. I wonder where them.
3
Could you check whether available?
4
Who this report?
5
Why the train late today?
6
Do you know who to?
7
I’d like to know how long here.
8
Could you tell me where the bus?
9
I’d like to know if to the party.
10
What after the meeting?

Embedded (Indirect) Questions

Choose the correct forms to complete the questions below. There are direct and indirect questions.
1
I'd like to know ____.
A.
B.
C.
2
Could you tell me ____?
A.
B.
C.
3
Do you know ____ yet?
A.
B.
C.
4
I was wondering ____ for the tickets.
A.
B.
C.
5
Tell me ____ late last night.
A.
B.
C.
6
I’m not sure ____ tomorrow.
A.
B.
C.
7
Which bus ____ to the airport? direct question
A.
B.
C.
8
Can you tell me who ____ on social media?
A.
B.
C.
9
Do you remember ____ on Friday?
A.
B.
C.
10
I’d like to know ____ seats are still available.
A.
B.
C.

Embedded (Indirect) Questions

Turn these direct questions into indirect questions.
1
Where is she from? ⇒ Do you know ?
2
How many languages does he speak? ⇒ I wonder .
3
What time did the concert start? ⇒ Can you tell me ?
4
Has the parcel arrived yet? ⇒ I’d like to know .
5
Does she often work from home? ⇒ I’ve no idea .
6
Who was he talking to? ⇒ Do you know ?
7
Where can I buy tickets? ⇒ Could you tell me ?
8
Why did they cancel the meeting? ⇒ Do you know ?
9
What is the new manager like? ⇒ I’d like to find out .
10
How much will it cost? ⇒ Do you have any idea ?