(InitCpl): The only structural difference between dependent and independent content questions is the optional use of a clauseinitial subordinating complementizer with the former.
(1) mi-t esz-ik dóri?
what-acc eat-prs.3sg Dóri?
‘What is Dori eating?’
(2a) peti az-t kérdez-t-e, mi-t esz-ik dóri.
Peti that-acc ask-pst-obj.3sg what-acc eat-prs.3sg Dóri
‘Peti asked what Dori was eating.’
(2b) peti az-t kérdez-t-e, hogy mi-t esz-ik dóri.
Peti that-acc ask-pst-obj.3sg that what-acc eat-prs.3sg Dóri
‘Peti asked what Dori was eating.’
In Hungarian, dependent and independent content questions only differ in a way that the former can be initiated by the hogy conjunction (cf. Kenesei et al. 1998: 31‒32).