....told me if/that he is...

Question

Hello everyone,
The answer to the question below is (B), and I chose it !
( )Dad told me ___ he is going to Taipei 101 next week. (A) if (B) that (C) what (D) which
But I'm wondering if (A) is possible in some context.
Can anyone share their opinions about this question? Thank you!

Enoon · Accepted Answer

I think "if" is possible, but it is unlikely, and some of us think "if" for "whether" is a mistake in this context.

Mary: Did Dad tell you if he is going to Taipei 101 next week?
Sally: Yes, Dad told me if he is going to Taipei 101 next week.
Mary: Well, is he or isn't he?
Sally: That's for me to know and for you to find out.
Mary: I hate you!
Sally: You know how much you hate me? Well, double it, and that's how much I hate you.

Wenwen · Answer

Hi Enoon,
Why can we use "whether" instead? Are they different? I thought they were the same.
And I read the question that I had written down. Now I'm doubting if the tense in the if-clause is correct or not.
Shouldn't it be "Dad told me that he was going to Taipei 101....'
I remember my teacher told me that when we use the past tense in the main clause, the verb in the noun clause should be the past form, too. Am I right?

BarbaraPA · Answer

On Monday, Dad says "I am going to Taipei on Friday."

On Tuesday, I can say either:
Dad said that he is going (because it's still in the future)
or
Dad said that he was going (because moving the tense back in reported speech is always okay).

You do not HAVE TO move the tense back if the thing is still true or still in the future, but you CAN move it back.

So "Dad said that he is going to Taipei" is fine, as long as his trip is still in the future.

The difference between "whether" and "if" is a subject for another thread.

Enoon · Answer

You are a fast reader and typist.

WenwenWhy can we use "whether" instead? Are they different? I thought they were the same.

The usage note from the American Heritage Dictionary under "if" says it better than I could:

"In informal writing both if and whether are standard in their use to introduce a clause indicating uncertainty after a verb such as ask, doubt, know, learn, or see: We shall soon learn whether (or if) it is true. In such contexts, however, the use of if can sometimes create ambiguities. Depending on the intended meaning, the sentence Let her know if she is invited might be better paraphrased as Let her know whether she is invited or If she is invited, let her know."

In your sentence, there is a stray erroneous meaning floating around in there, that Dad's telling her was conditional on his going. "Whether" eliminates the admittedly slight problem, and "whether" is quite often better than "if" in such cases in any event and is almost always better in formal writing.

WenwenShouldn't it be "Dad told me that he was going to Taipei 101....'I remember my teacher told me that when we use the past tense in the main clause, the verb in the noun clause should be the past form, too. Am I right?

Yes, you and your teacher are right. It's called backshifting, and it is never wrong to do it. You can use other tenses, and sometimes you should for clarity, but you run the risk of getting it wrong and sounding funny. Leave that for when you're immersed and fluent. In "Dad told me he is going", that's the present progressive used as a future tense. You could even go full future with "Dad told me he will be going".

Wenwen · Answer

Thank you, Grammar Geek and Enoon.
I really apppreciate your prompt replies.

I now have a better understanding of the "whether/if" and the "tense" issues.

....told me if/that he is...

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