0
Seagull Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Doubt if [whether]

Regarding the following four sentences:

(A) I doubt if this story is true.
(B) I doubt whether this story is true.
(C) I doubt if this story is true or not.
(D) I doubt whether this story is true or not.

I think there's no problem with (A) and (B). Besides, at least to my ear, (A) sounds more natural than (B). Is my understanding right?

What about (C) and (D)? It seems to me that they're not just unnatural but grammatically incorrect. What is your take on them?

  

Top answer

(A) and (B) are both OK. In careful or formal English, (B) is better. You can also say "doubt that", of course.

— GPY

  • (A) and (B) are both OK.
  • In careful or formal English, (B) is better.
  • You can also say "doubt that", of course.
  • (C) and (D) seem illogical to me (I would say illogical rather than actually ungrammatical).
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0

(A) and (B) are both OK. In careful or formal English, (B) is better. You can also say "doubt that", of course.

(C) and (D) seem illogical to me (I would say illogical rather than actually ungrammatical).

0
0
seagullI think there's no problem with (A) and (B).

That's right.

By the way, when we express a negative opinion, we normally pull the negation into the main clause. To be more idiomatic, say:

I don't think there's a problem with (A) or (B).
seagullBesides, at least to my ear, (A) sounds more natural than
0

Related Questions