So maybe you want to know what time it is. Ok, it’s now! But you didn’t ask me, did you? The “what statement” in this sentence:
“You want to know what time it is.” .
.. is actually the OBJECT of “KNOW”. So, it’s NOT a question. That’s why we don’t move the verb IS in front of the noun like,
*Wrong* –> “You want to know what IS the time.” (TIME is the Subject here)
We can do the same thing with all of the CONTENT questions for verbs like:
I wonder WHO she is. OR
Can you tell me WHEN you’re coming home? OR
I’ve been thinking about WHEREI want to go on our holiday. OR
I wish I knew HOW I can call for an Uber right now. OR
If I found out WHY he had done this maybe I would understand.
These are called “Embedded Questions” but they’re not really questions at all but rather the objects of:
Wonder WHO // Tell me WHEN // Thinking about WHERE // Knew HOW I can // and Found out WHY.
No Comments