Grammar：Embedded questions
【明報專訊】The Smarties are going to have a picnic. What will they do?
“ Pat: MoMo, have you checked the Observatory's website? (1) Do you know if the weather will be fine on Sunday? ”
“ MoMo: It will be cloudy but it is all right. (2) I have also checked how we can get to the picnic site. We can take the coach at the cafe downstairs. ”
“ Bill: Great. My mom said she will help me fix some snacks too. (3) I wonder what she will make. I hope we can have chicken wings! ”
“ Dr Panda: Let's prepare some wings in a couple of flavours and bring them with your mom's snacks. I'm sure we can finish them. ”
An embedded question is a question inside a sentence or another question. Unlike a simple question, an embedded question follows normal sentence word order, with the subject before the main verb.
e.g. Where does Tommy live? ("Tommy" comes after "does")
→ Do you know where Tommy lives? ("Tommy" comes before "lives").
For yes / no questions, use the word "if" or "whether".
e.g. Will Mary come to the party tomorrow?
→ I wonder whether Mary will come to the party tomorrow.
■Gear up
Rewrite the following sentences.
(1) What time does the show start?
→ I forgot ______________________________.
(2) When will Miss Chan arrive at the airport?
→ Do you know __________________________?
(3) Has Sammy sent the present to the guests?
→ Please check _________________________.
(Answers on next text)
■Glossary
observatory (n) 天文台
coach (n) 巴士／長途車
fix (food) (v) 準備(食物)
flavour (n) 味道
[Smarties' Power English 第255期]
