Interrogative Adverbs
Adverbs answer the questions How? When? Where? and Why?, but these words themselves are adverbs. They may be used as interrogative adverbs at the beginning of direct questions.
How was the movie?
When does the play begin?
Where is the new mall being built?
Why don't you like her?
Notice that an inverted word order is used in these questions. That is, the subject follows the simple past or simple present of the verb to be or the first auxiliary verb used with that form. If a different verb is used, there comes after the first auxiliary verb, which must be a form of to do.
Why did he run away?
When does Aunt Tilly leave for home?
How is the pie?
Where was your wallet?
Note that the verbs run and leave, the subjects (he, Aunt Tilly) come AFTER the auxiliary verbs (did, does). The subjects pie and wallet follow a form of the verb to be (is, was).
Write these indirect questions as direct questions.
EXAMPLES:
Explain how the game is played. becomes: How is the game played?
I need to know where the car keys are. becomes: Where are the car keys?
Now you try:
1. Tell me who that good-looking guy is.
2. I wonder why you have stopped skiing.
3. Can you tell me when they will arrive?
4. I need to know how many pints in a gallon.
5. Tell me when the party starts.
6. I wonder where they went.
7. Will you tell me the answer?
8. Find out when the ambulance can be here.
9. I wonder where he finds those colorful shirts.
10. I want to know why they split up.
11. We are curious about her reasons for quitting school.
12. Zelda will ask how long the race takes.
How, when, where and why can be used at the beginning of indirect questions also as you can see from the quiz above.
Inverted word order is not used in indirect questions, however, so the subject comes before the verb.
The doctor needs to discover how the disease is transmitted.
Ask Morrie when he will be here.
I wonder where they live. (The subjects--doctor, you (the understood subject of the imperative sentence Ask Morrie) and I--come before the verbs needs, ask, wonder.)
Rewrite the direct questions as indirect questions.
EXAMPLES:
When does the flight take off? (I need to know) I need to know when the flight takes off.
Why doesn't he call? (I wonder) I wonder why he doesn't call.
How does your garden grow, Mary? (She asked) She asked Mary how her garden grew.
Where did the dog hide her puppies? (Tell me) Tell me where the dog hid her puppies.
Now you try:
1. Why did she say that? (Tell me)
2. When can they send us the book? (I wonder)
3. Where did she go after class? (Will you tell us)
4. How long is the trip? (Ask her)
5. When did he get elected chairman? (I don't know)
6. Why did George move again? (We wonder)
7. How was the weather in Rio? (Do you know)
8. Where does Aunt Tilly keep the candy? (Please tell me)
9. When will they finish building the shed? (I wonder)
10. How much money do you have with you? (I need to know)
11. Why did the store close? (Did you hear)
12. Where did you get that awful hat? (We wondered)
Interrogative adverbs can also be used at the beginning of subordinate clauses.
Start singing when the choir leader gives the downbeat. (An adverb clause of time)
The garage was built where the patio was supposed to be. (An adverb clause of place or location)
Lisa saves money when she is able. (An adverb clause of time)