Definition

The name of this construction should be self-evident: an indirect question is a subordinate clause that embeds a question within a larger sentence which itself is generally not (but may be) a question itself. Another way to put it: indirect questions are questions that are reported at second hand. For example:

Direct question: Quintus asked Gaius, "Did you see my parents in Beneventum?"

Indirect question: Quintus asked Gaius if he had seen his parents in Beneventum.

The key element in recognizing indirect questions is the interrogative word; any word that can be used in a direct question can also be used for indirect questions.

A Big Difference

In English, we use the indicative mood for all questions, direct or indirect. Latin uses indicative for direct questions, subjunctive for indirect questions. This point leads to the important consideration that, in translating an indirect question from one language to the other, you must shift moods. In this respect, contrast the purpose clause, which may be rendered in both Latin and English with subjunctive verbs.

Sequence of Tenses

The tense of the verb in a Latin indirect question is determined by a rigid sequence of tenses. (Actually, there is an equally rigid sequence in English, though you often hear it violated in colloquial speech.) Most of the time, when translating Latin, you will not go far wrong by translating the tense of the subjunctive into the corresponding tense of the English indicative. For example, a pluperfect subjunctive in Latin will normally be translated "had --ed" in English. When moving from English to Latin, it is a good idea to be guided by the formal sequence.

	Action of indirect question relative to that of main clause:
	Simultaneous	Prior	Subsequent
Primary Sequence (main verb present or future)	Present subjunctive	Perfect subjunctive	Future active participle + sim, sis, sit, simus, sitis, sint
Secondary Sequence (main verb imperfect, perfect, or pluperfect)	Imperfect subjunctive	Pluperfect subjunctive	Future active participle + essem, esses, esset, essemus, essetis, essent

Some of the more common interrogative words

• cur: why
• num: whether, if
• qualis, -e: what sort of
• quando: when
• quantus, -a, -um: how great
• qui, quae, quod: which (adj.)
• quis, quid: who, what (pronoun)
• quomodo: how
• quot: how many
• ubi: where
• utrum...an: whether...or
• utrum...necne: whether...or not

This is not a complete list! Note, too, that it includes adjectives, pronouns, and adverbs.

Examples

Quintus numquam invenit quam viam parentes Beneventum iniissent.

Quintus never found out which road his parents had started on to Beneventum.

The interrogative word is quam, an interrogative adjective here modifying viam, which itself is direct object (thus accusative) of iniissent (< ineo). iniissent, in turn, is pluperfect subjunctive, showing (according to the sequence of tenses) that this action was prior to that of invenit--hence the translation "had started on."

nemo Quinto narrare potest ubi Argum inventurus sit.

No one can tell Quintus where he is going to find (or: will find) Argus.

The interrogative word is ubi, which is an adverb. The combination of future active participle (inventurus) and present subjunctive (sit) emphasizes that this action is subsequent in time to potest; hence the alternative translations "is going to find"/"will find"

Argus diu cogitat cur Venusiae relictus sit.

Argus long ponders why he was left in Venusia.

The interrogative word is the adverb cur. relictus sit (<relinquo), being perfect passive subjunctive, indicates that this action occurred prior to the main verb; hence the translation "was left."

Quintus omnes rogavit utrum parentes adhuc Capuae morarentur an Romam profecti essent.

Quintus asked everyone whether his parents were still in Capua or had set out for Rome.

The interrogative words are utrum...an, which indicate a "double" question (posing two mutually exclusive possibilities). The two subjunctives, being in different tenses, must be translated differently: the imperfect morarentur indicates an action simultaneous with the main verb rogavit, but profecti essent, which is pluperfect, signals a prior action; note the different translations. By the way, both verbs are deponents--passive in form, active in meaning.