Dónde vs donde

Marc G.B1Kwiziq community member

Dónde vs donde

No sé ________ he puesto las llaves del coche.


The answer insisted on dónde, but there is no question being asked here. So I do not see the reasoning. The rest of the sentence could easily be considered (actually is) the major clause: "I don't know" I think your answer is wrong, or at best an alternative.

Asked 1 year ago
David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi there Marc ...

No, "dónde" is indeed correct. Whenever it relates [or refers] to a question, then the accent is definitely required. Here, part of the same scenario could well involve you saying to yourself: "Where have I put the keys to the car?"

This^ same rule applies to other interrogative pronouns, e.g., qué, cómo, cuándo and others.

Marc G.B1Kwiziq community member

What does "relate to a question" mean? "Where have I put the keys" is a question; "I don't know where I put the keys" is a statement. I'm supposed to guess "scenarios?" Whatever they are. 

Why aren't both forms correct?

David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

If you can compose a question which is relevant to [or describes] the situation being portrayed by the statement, then the accent is required in the statement.

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Marc

this is an indirect interrogative sentence that takes the form of a statement but it has a question inside. It's the same in English, you can also make indirect questions by starting the sentence with for example:

I wonder when the train will arrive.

I'd like to know how you did it. 

She was asking why I was so rude.

You can see the questions inside those, although there is a change in the placement of the verbs in English, but they work the same way as in Spanish. They are also indirect questions. 

Saludos

Dónde vs donde

No sé ________ he puesto las llaves del coche.


The answer insisted on dónde, but there is no question being asked here. So I do not see the reasoning. The rest of the sentence could easily be considered (actually is) the major clause: "I don't know" I think your answer is wrong, or at best an alternative.

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