Your goals
By the end of this lesson, you can ask for information politely, describe something you do not know, and use the correct word order in an embedded question.
Warm-up: You need to find Room 12 in a new school. What can you say to someone at the front desk?
1 · What is an embedded question?
An embedded question is a question inside another question or statement. We often use one to sound polite or to talk about information we do not know.
A. Use statement word order
Opening phrase + question word + subject + verb
Where is the key? → Do you know where the key is?
Not: Do you know where is the key?
Keep words such as what, where, when, why, who, which, and how.
B. Remove do, does, or did from the inside question
When do, does, or did is a question helper, remove it and put the main verb in the correct form.
Where does Leo live? → Do you know where Leo lives?
When did Maya arrive? → I wonder when Maya arrived.
The opening “Do you know…?” keeps its Do. We only change the question inside it. A main verb such as do also stays: “What does he do?” → “Do you know what he does?”
C. Use if or whether for yes/no questions
If the direct question has no question word, introduce the embedded question with if or whether. Both work in these examples.
Is the café open? → Do you know if the café is open?
Does Finn have the key? → I wonder whether Finn has the key.
D. Look at the whole sentence for punctuation
If the whole sentence asks a question, use a question mark. If it makes a statement, use a period.
Could you tell me where Zoe is?
I wonder where Zoe is.
She doesn't know where Zoe is.
Do not put a comma between the opening phrase and the embedded question: I wonder why she is late.
One useful exception: who as the subject
When who is the subject, the order may already be correct: “Who has the key?” → “Do you know who has the key?”
2 · Read: The missing key
The Mystery Club is preparing a surprise party at the community center. Maya, Leo, Priya, Finn, and Zoe need to unlock a cupboard full of decorations.
Maya: “Does anyone know where the cupboard key is?”
Leo: “I don't know where it is, but I wonder why Finn's bag is making a jingling sound.”
Finn: “Those are my spoons, and I don't understand why everyone is looking at me.”
Priya: “Can you tell me when you last used the key, Maya?”
Maya: “I used it this morning, but I can't remember where I put it.”
Zoe: “Do you know whether your jacket has an inside pocket?”
Maya: “It does, and I think I know what is inside it!”
Maya pulls the key out of her jacket. Finn takes three spoons out of his bag.
Finn: “Now can someone tell me when we can eat the cake?”
Words to know: cupboard = a cabinet for storing things; decorations = things that make a room look special; jingling = making light metallic sounds.
Notice the grammar
“Where the cupboard key is” uses subject + verb. “Whether your jacket has an inside pocket” comes from a yes/no question. “When we can eat the cake” puts the subject before can.
Practice score: 0 / 42 correct
3 · True or false?
Use the story and grammar guide to decide.
4 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the best embedded question or statement.
5 · Match the direct and embedded questions
Choose the embedded version of each direct question. Use each letter once.
6 · Put the words in order
Build four sentences. Click words and punctuation, then select Check. Undo removes your last choice.
7 · Fill in the blanks
Type the missing word. Use the word in parentheses as a clue. For yes/no questions, either if or whether is correct.
8 · Find and fix the error
Rewrite each sentence correctly. Keep the opening phrase and the original meaning. Check the word order, verb form, and punctuation.
9 · Choose from the dropdown
Complete each sentence with the best word or phrase.
10 · Partner dialogue: The cake clue
Work with a partner. Read the 12 lines aloud, then switch roles. Find the embedded question in each line and identify its subject and verb.
Maya: Do you know where Finn put the cake?
Zoe: I'm not sure where he put it.
Maya: Can you tell me when you last saw it?
Zoe: I saw it at noon, but I don't know where it is now.
Maya: I wonder whether Leo took it to the kitchen.
Zoe: Let's ask him if he moved it.
Maya: First, do you know why there is frosting on that box?
Zoe: I wonder if the cake is inside it.
Maya: Can you see what the note on the box says?
Zoe: It says that Finn doesn't know where the cake belongs.
Maya: Now I understand why he put it in this enormous box.
Zoe: Great, but I still wonder whether he left any cake for us!
Words to know: frosting = the sweet topping on a cake; enormous = very large. The final exclamation mark adds emotion to a statement; it does not turn it into a question.
Check what you noticed
- where Finn put the cake
- where he put it
- when you last saw it
- where it is now
- whether Leo took it to the kitchen
- if he moved it
- why there is frosting on that box — there is the grammatical subject in this pattern.
- if the cake is inside it
- what the note on the box says
- where the cake belongs — this question is inside “Finn doesn’t know…”.
- why he put it in this enormous box
- whether he left any cake for us
Make it yours: Replace the cake with a missing phone, change the place and the clue, and act out your new version.
11 · Your turn: talk with a partner
You and a partner are planning a class party. Ask three embedded questions about the room, the food, and the start time. Your partner answers and asks you a question.
A: Do you know where we can have the party?
B: We can use Room 12. I wonder if it is free on Friday.
Use these beginnings: Could you tell me…? · Do you know…? · I wonder… · I'm not sure…
Exit ticket
Change these into embedded questions or statements:
- Where does the teacher keep the markers? → Do you know…?
- Is the library open today? → I wonder…
Check the exit ticket
1. Do you know where the teacher keeps the markers?
2. I wonder if the library is open today.
“Whether” is also correct in sentence 2.