Clauses · CEFR B1 · Independent
I know what he wants — English clauses
A question word can open a clause that acts like a noun. Inside it, the word order is a statement, not a question.
The shape
verb + what / where / why / how + subject + verb
Put a question word inside a statement.
In Hindi
सवाल का शब्द ऐसा उपवाक्य शुरू कर सकता है जो संज्ञा की तरह काम करे। अंदर शब्दों का क्रम कथन वाला होता है।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
I know what does he want. | I know what he wants. Inside a statement there is no "does" and no swap. |
Easy to confuse with
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
Questions people ask
- What is the i know what he wants used for?
- A question word can open a clause that acts like a noun. Inside it, the word order is a statement, not a question. In practice: put a question word inside a statement.
- How do you form the i know what he wants?
- verb + what / where / why / how + subject + verb.
- What is the most common mistake with the i know what he wants?
- Saying “I know what does he want.” instead of “I know what he wants.”. Inside a statement there is no "does" and no swap.
Where i know what he wants fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
I know what he wants is a CEFR B1 structure — the independent band — and it belongs to clauses. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
CoCap turns this page into practice: Hindi sentence in, English sentence out, corrected one thing at a time. Free, no card.
Practise the i know what he wants →