Grammar Tip 17: Question Words, but not a Question

Take a look at these two sentences. How do they feel to you?

I don't know who is the right person for the job.
I don't know who the right person for the job is.

Well done if you have a 'correct' feeling about the second sentence, and you are uneasy about the first. The second sentence is correct, although you may only notice it in written English.

This is an example of an indirect question. The 'who' in the middle is a question word, but the whole sentence is not a question. It's a statement. Note that the verb 'to be' - 'is' - moves to the end of the sentence in the indirect form:

Direct Question: Who is the right person for the job?
Indirect Question: I don't know who the right person for the job is.

Note that it is possible for an indirect question to become a real question:

Do you know who the right person for the job is?

Once again, the verb 'to be' moves to the end.

Test Yourself

Look at the following examples. Only one is correct. Spot the question word (wh- word) and then decide if the verb 'to be' (in whatever tense) is in the right place. The answers follow.

1. I'm not sure what is the best way to Amsterdam.
2. Does anyone know where is my passport?
3. Can you possibly tell me why are house prices so high?
4. Did John say why the rest of the family are not coming?
5. Could you tell me when are the clocks going back?

Answers:
1. I'm not sure what the best way to Amsterdam is.
2. Does anyone know where my passport is?
3. Can you possibly tell me why house prices are so high?
4. Correct!
5. Could you tell me when the clocks are going back?

Now make these indirect questions into direct questions!