EMBEDDED QUESTIONS

PREGUNTAS INDIRECTAS o EMBEDDED QUESTIONS.

Este tipo de preguntas se llaman "indirectas" – en inglés, "embedded questions" (preguntas embebidas o incrustadas). En inglés tienes que tener sumo cuidado de no invertir el orden de la segunda parte a fin de que no se generen DOS interrogaciones dentro de UNA MISMA pregunta.  Analicemos estas dos preguntas sueltas: (1) Could you ask Matt? (¿Podrías preguntarle a Matt?) (2) What time is he coming back? (¿A qué hora regresará él?) En español puedes unirlas tal cual como las ves más arriba. Observa: ¿Podrías preguntarle a Matt a qué hora regresará él? Pero en inglés no se acepta que una pregunta contenga OTRA pregunta. Por lo tanto, para solucionarlo, tienes que dejar en interrrogativo sólo la primera parte (pregunta 1) mientras que la segunda parte (pregunta 2) debes convertirla al afirmativo. Observa: Could you ask Matt what time HE IS COMING back? (CORRECT) Could you ask Matt what time IS HE COMING back? (WRONG) Ese es el motivo por el cual, en este tipo de preguntas "indirectas", el segundo verbo de la oración suele aparecer al final.

Introduction

An embedded question is a question that is included inside another question or statement. They are common after introductory phrases, such as:

I wonder
Could you tell me
Do you know
Can you remember
Let's ask
We need to find out
I'd like to know
Could you tell me
I'm not sure
Would you mind explaining

EXAMPLES

Examples:                                                   Question Word/        Introductory Clause                             If                      Subject + Verb Do you know                          where               Jane lives? Do you have any idea               what time          it is? Can you tell me                        who                  that woman you were talking to was? Could you please tell me          whose              IPad that is? Can you tell me                        when                you applied for college? Could you please tell me          if                      classes begin next Monday? Can you tell me                        if                      you have seen my notebook anywhere?

Embedded Questions (2) “Embedded questions” are questions that are inside other sentences. With embedded questions, you need to put the subject before the verb. Question Embedded Question What time does the movie start? ...…what time the movie starts? When will John be back? …when John will be bac.? How much does this book cost? …how much this book costs? Where is this train going? …where this train is going?. Who is Jenna dating? …who Jenna is dating?. Why is school cancelled? …why school is cancelled?. What does Mom want for her birthday? …what Mom wants for her birthday?. Fill in the blanks to complete the following questions and answers. 1. A. Where _____________________________________? B. I’m not sure where Jenna went. 2. A. How will you get to the bus station? B. I don’t know _________________________________. 3. A. Who is Bobby talking to? B. I’m not sure _________________________________. 4. A. What time___________________________________? B. I can’t remember what time James gets off work. 5. A. Why _______________________________________? B. I don’t know why he’s going to South America for the summer. 6. A: How much does a new sports car cost? B: ___________________________________________.

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