Embedding an Information Question

Level 4

I know / ask / wonder → who, where, when, or why.

How It Works

A clause with کون, کہاں, کب, or کیوں can express information someone knows or wants to know. It often follows کہ, though کہ is not required in every conversational example.

Use the normal Urdu clause order. There is no need to imitate English question inversion or add an English-style “do.”

A statement such as “I know where she lives” reports knowledge. It is different from asking “Where does she live?” even though the embedded clause contains a question word.

Examples (4)

  1. مجھے معلوم ہے کہ مریم کہاں رہتی ہے۔

    I know where Maryam lives.

    The sentence reports knowledge rather than requesting an address.

  2. اس نے پوچھا کہ اجلاس کب شروع ہو گا۔

    He asked when the meeting would start.

    کب remains inside the reported question.

  3. ہم جاننا چاہتے ہیں کہ یہ مشین کیسے چلتی ہے۔

    We want to know how this machine works.

    کیسے introduces the information being sought.

  4. یہ بتائیے کہ کون ہمارے ساتھ آئے گا۔

    Please tell us who will come with us.

    کون is the subject of the embedded clause.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Embedding an Information QuestionLevel 4

Learn This First

Recognize a proposition embedded in another clause. Distinguish an interrogative word from the yes-or-no marker.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

کیاکیاکونکہاںکبکیوںکیسے