Indirect Wh-Questions
In the previous lesson, you learned how to form indirect yes/no questions using of (if/whether). You can also form indirect questions using question words like wie (who), wat (what), waar (where), and waarom (why).
Just like with of, an indirect question is a subordinate clause. This means the conjugated verb is pushed to the very end of the sentence.
Compare a direct question with an indirect one:
- Direct: Wie is de dader? (Who is the perpetrator?)
- Indirect: We weten niet wie de dader *is.* (We do not know who the perpetrator is.)
| We do not know who the perpetrator is. | We weten niet wie de dader is. |
| They ask each other where the perpetrator is now. | Zij vragen elkaar waar de dader nu is. |
| The detective asks what the thief is doing. | De rechercheur vraagt wat de dief doet. |
Verbs at the Very End
Even when the indirect question contains extra information—like an object or a location—the verb waits until the absolute end of the clause.
| I do not know where the thief hides that weapon. | Ik weet niet waar de dief dat wapen verstopt. |
| He asks why the detective is following that trail. | Hij vraagt waarom de rechercheur dat spoor volgt. |
| No one knows who is helping the perpetrator. | Niemand weet wie de dader helpt. |
| The detective asks the witness where the weapon is. | De rechercheur vraagt de getuige waar het wapen is. |
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