Interrogative Clauses.
How embedded questions use clause order instead of question order.
Interrogative ClausesSlide 1 of 11
Summary
Interrogative Clauses explains why an embedded question follows clause order rather than question order. Compare the direct question What time does the store open? with the interrogative clause in I don’t know what time the store opens.
The presentation reviews main and subordinate clauses, shows the normal structure of a question and an interrogative clause, and explains how yes/no questions become clauses beginning with if. It also introduces common main clauses such as Do you know…, I wonder…, and I’m not sure….
Important points
- A clause contains a subject and a conjugated verb.
- A main clause can stand alone, while a subordinate clause must be attached to a main clause.
- An interrogative clause is a subordinate clause, not a question.
- Questions normally use question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.
- Interrogative clauses use a question word followed by subject + verb.
- Interrogative clauses based on yes/no questions begin with if.
- In a question containing several clauses, only the main question uses question structure.
Self-test
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