Syntax

Verb patterns: verb + question word

Some verbs, such as the following, take the pattern verb + question word: know, (not) care, forget, understand, misunderstand, guess, imagine and remember.

• She didn't know where she was.
• She forgot what she had telephoned him for.
• The police couldn't understand how she had got there.
• I remember how we used to play together as children.
• We don't care how often he complains.

After the verb + question word we use affirmative word order, not question word order.

• She didn't know where she was.
  NOT: She didn't know where was she.

• They misunderstood what she was saying.
  NOT: They misunderstood what was she saying.