440. A question expressed in the form actually used in asking it is called a direct question.
- What is your name?
- “What is your name?” he asked.
The direct form may be retained when the question is quoted or reported, as in the second example above. Often, however, a question is quoted or reported, not in the direct form, but in the form of a subordinate clause: as,—
He asked what my name was.
Such a clause is called an indirect question.
441. An indirect question expresses the substance of a direct question in the form of a subordinate clause.
Indirect questions depend on verbs or other expressions of asking, doubting, thinking, perceiving, and the like.
- Franklin asked where the difficulty lay. [Direct question: “Where does the difficulty lie?”]
- The sergeant wondered how he should escape. [Direct question: “How shall I escape?”]
- I have not decided which train I shall take. [Direct question: “Which train shall I take?”]
442. Both direct and indirect questions may be introduced (1) by the interrogative pronouns who, which, what; (2) by the interrogative adverbs when, where, whence, whither, how, why.
Indirect questions may be introduced by the subordinate conjunctions whether (whether ... or) and if.