A question that is phrased as a statement is called an indirect question.
Indirect questions are embedded within a larger statement, making them less direct than a typical question. They often start with phrases like "I wonder," "Could you tell me," or "Do you know." Instead of directly asking something, they imply a question through the framing of the sentence.
Here's a breakdown to illustrate:
- Direct Question: "Where is the library?"
- Indirect Question: "Could you tell me where the library is?"
Notice how the indirect question incorporates the question "where is the library?" but presents it as part of a larger request for information. The word order in the embedded question also often changes to match a statement.
Key Characteristics of Indirect Questions:
- They are embedded within a statement.
- They are less direct than direct questions.
- They often use introductory phrases like "I wonder," "Can you tell me," or "I'd like to know."
- The word order of the embedded question often follows statement order (subject-verb instead of verb-subject).
Examples:
- Direct: "What time is it?"
Indirect: "I'd like to know what time it is." - Direct: "Is he coming?"
Indirect: "I wonder if he is coming." - Direct: "Why did she leave?"
Indirect: "She asked me why she left."
Indirect questions are a more polite and formal way to ask a question. They can also be used to soften the impact of a potentially sensitive or personal inquiry.
