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HSS Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Matrix Verb/Past, Subordinate Verb/Present

If you said 'I doubted if he is pig-headed,' could this mean at the time of doubting you didn't believe it was true, but now you do? Or, is this sentence not idiomatic?

Hiro

  

Top answer

We've got a couple of problems here, I think. I won't tell you that this sentence is never uttered as is, but 'doubted if' is a doubtful construction, and the present tense in the 'if' clause sounds odd even if you want it to mean what you suggest-- because the sentence makes no mention of present belief whatsoever. You would be referring to possible pigheadedness if anything.

— Mister Micawber

  • We've got a couple of problems here, I think.
  • I won't tell you that this sentence is never uttered as is, but 'doubted if' is a doubtful construction, and the present tense in the 'if' clause sounds odd even if you want it to mean what you suggest-- because the sentence makes no mention of present belief whatsoever.
  • You would be referring to possible pigheadedness if anything.
  • I doubted whether he was pigheaded.
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4 Answers
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We've got a couple of problems here, I think. I won't tell you that this sentence is never uttered as is, but 'doubted if' is a doubtful construction, and the present tense in the 'if' clause sounds odd even if you want it to mean what you suggest-- because the sentence makes no mention of present belief whatsoever. You would be referring to possible pigheadedness if anything.

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So you feel the statement here of possibly believing he is pigheaded now is not well-founded with this sentence alone, right? If there is context supporting the belief, would this sentence be possible, maybe, changing 'if' to 'whether'?

What would the difference between 'doubt if' and 'doubt whether' be?

Thanks, MM.

Hiro
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So you feel the statement here of possibly believing he is pigneaded now is not well-founded with this sentence alone, right? If there is context supporting the belief, would this sentence be possible, maybe, changing 'if' to 'whether'?-- Frankly, I think a completely separate statement of pigheadedness is required; as it stands, it's a question of when the doubt is, not when the pigheadedness
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Mister MicawberFrankly, I think a completely separate statement of pigheadedness is required; as it stands, it's a question of when the doubt is, not when the pigheadedness is. (And haven't I said that already?!)
Thanks so very much, MM. I just had to confirm it with you, as I was not too sure I understood you. Thanks.
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