Lesson

Verb + wh - clause

Wh- clause reporting

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Verb + wh-clause

A wh-clause (embedded question) is a clause that begins with a wh-word (who, what, where, when, why, how, which) and functions as a noun clause. Many verbs can take a wh-clause as their complement to report questions, request information, or express uncertainty.

  • A wh-clause starts with a wh-word and contains a subject + verb (statement order).
  • Common verbs that take wh-clauses: ask, wonder, know, explain, decide, tell, find out.
  • Embedded wh-clauses do NOT use question inversion or do-support.

Table

Common Verbs + wh-clause

Verb Pattern Example
ask ask + wh-clause She asked where the meeting would be.
wonder wonder + wh-clause I wonder how the client will respond.
know know + wh-clause Do you know who approved the budget?
explain explain + wh-clause He explained why the deadline was extended.
decide decide + wh-clause / decide + wh + to-infinitive They decided when to submit the proposal.
tell tell + object + wh-clause She told me what the new procedure is.
find out find out + wh-clause We need to find out where the shipment is.
ask whether / ask if ask + whether/if + clause (yes/no) He asked whether we had received the invoice.

Tip

Key Rule: Word Order in Embedded Questions

When a verb takes a wh-clause, the clause uses statement order (subject + verb), not question inversion.

  • Correct: She asked where the meeting would be. (wh + subject + verb)
  • Incorrect: She asked where would the meeting be. (inversion used — wrong)
  • For yes/no questions, use whether or if: He asked whether she could attend.

Remember: embedded = no inversion; use 'whether/if' for yes/no reported questions.

Example

Examples in context

The client asked when we could deliver the shipment.

I wonder who is responsible for the new account.

Our manager explained why the budget was reallocated.

They decided what actions to take after the audit.

Tip

Common Mistakes with wh-clauses

Watch out for these universal errors when using wh-clauses.

  • Using question inversion inside the embedded clause: incorrect to invert subject and verb.
  • Using do-support in the embedded clause: do/does/did are not used for wh-clauses that are complements.
  • Confusing yes/no reported questions (use whether/if) with wh-questions.
  • Incorrect punctuation or treating the embedded clause as a separate question (do not add a question mark inside the sentence).
  • Forgetting the subject after the wh-word (e.g., 'I wonder who will attend' — include the subject 'who').

Think: embedded = statement order, no extra auxiliaries, and no internal question marks.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Remember: no inversion in embedded questions; use subject + verb.

Quiz

Complete: They _____ what the client prefers.

Hint: Think of a verb that requests information in the past.

Quiz

Choose the sentence that correctly reports a yes/no question:

Hint: Focus on using whether/if and keeping subject + verb order.

Key Points

Vocabulary

ask

verb CEFR A2 //æsk//

to request information or an answer

She asked where the package was.

Vocabulary

wonder

verb CEFR B1 //ˈwʌndər//

to want to know something; to be curious

I wonder what the new policy means for us.

GrammarPoint

whether

conjunction CEFR B1 //ˈwɛðər//

introduces an indirect yes/no question or choice between alternatives

We must decide whether to accept the offer.

GrammarPoint

embedded question (wh-clause)

grammar_point CEFR B2 //ɪmˈbɛdɪd ˈkwɛstʃən//

a question placed inside a larger sentence that functions as a noun clause; uses statement word order

Can you tell me who is leading the project?

GrammarPoint

inversion

noun CEFR B2 //ɪnˈvɜːrʒən//

switching the normal order of subject and auxiliary verb used in direct questions

Direct: Where did she sign the contract? Embedded: I asked where she had signed the contract.

Vocabulary

decide

verb CEFR B1 //dɪˈsaɪd//

to make a choice or come to a conclusion

The board decided when to release the report.