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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

IS/BE?

H there, I am a ESL student. I saw the sentence in a book:

Hopefully you are beginning to see that to the degree that you cannot forgive - whether it BE yourself or someone else....

I wonder why they writer did not say - whether it IS yourself or someone else....

What is the difference between using IS and BE in a sentence?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

). Here it reflects the uncertain or hypothetical nature of the possibilities introduced by "whether". This use of "be" is restricted to more formal written English.

— Mr Wordy

  • ).
  • Here it reflects the uncertain or hypothetical nature of the possibilities introduced by "whether".
  • This use of "be" is restricted to more formal written English.
  • )
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1 Answers
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"be" is a subjunctive form (I hope that's right -- someone please correct me if not!). Here it reflects the uncertain or hypothetical nature of the possibilities introduced by "whether". This use of "be" is restricted to more formal written English. In everyday conversation or writing most people would say, for example,

"I don't know who's to blame -- whether it's (= it is) you or
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