Download Chapter 42 Indirect Questions

Indirect Questions
Indirect question is the reporting of a question without using the exact words of the
speaker. It does not use quotation marks nor end in a question mark (in English; Latin
didn't use these punctuation marks anyway), since the direct question has become part of
a sentence that is no longer a question. It follows verbs of asking, knowing, doubting,
wondering, and the like.
Paris asked where Helen was.
(cf. Paris asked, "Where is Helen?")
Helen wondered when the Greek leaders were coming.
(cf. Helen wondered, "When are the Greek leaders coming?")
Priam asked who the Greek leaders were.
(cf. Priam asked, "Who are the Greek leaders?")
Paris wondered how he had failed.
(cf. Paris asked, "Where is Helen?")
An indirect question is easy to recognize in Latin since the quoted question has
become a subordinate clause introduced by the same question word (cur, quis, quid,
quando, ubi, quomodo, etc.) that would introduce a direct question. Indirect questions
are very common in Latin, and all you need to know about them is that 1) the verb of the
indirect question is in the subjunctive.
Here is a good exercise to practice with. Remember to pay attention to your Sequence of
Tense rules.
http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/cml/rcape/latin/39/indirquest1.htm