Unit 7 - Women
Noun Clauses with Question Words
Report questions by embedding them as noun clauses.
1. Reminder
B1 question pattern: When did you arrive?
Embed it: I asked when she arrived.
Noun clauses with question words begin with who, what, where, when, why, how and keep statement word order.
2. Form
| Direct Question | Embedded Clause |
|---|---|
| Where is he? | I wonder where he is. |
| Why did they leave? | Do you know why they left? |
| How much does it cost? | She explained how much it costs. |
3. Grammar Tips
- No inversion inside the clause: who he is (not who is he).
- Use the correct tense for reported time: She asked why I was running when I dropped my phone.
- Add if/whether for yes/no questions, but keep question words for open questions.
Pronoun choice
Choose pronouns carefully so the listener knows who is who: He asked who they were waiting for.
4. Practice
- Convert five direct questions into embedded clauses using reporting verbs.
- Write a paragraph summarising an interview using who, when, why, how clauses.
- Combine question-word clauses with modal verbs (e.g., We discussed how we could improve.).
Quick Review
- Question-word clauses keep statement order (subject + verb).
- Use them after verbs like ask, wonder, explain, know, decide.
- Adjust tenses to match the time relationship between the reporting verb and the embedded clause.