"whether it be" or "whether it is"
Hello,
Which sentence sound better to you?
- The man loves to do his work, whether it be/is cleaning the house, making wooden toys or singing.
Would you replace "it" with "they" in this sentence: "I love eating in restaurants, whether it/they be Burger King, McDonalds or Taco Bell."
Thank you.
Top answer
"Whether it be," though many people would use "is," not realizing it is wrong. It sounds fine to most people. "
- "Whether it be," though many people would use "is," not realizing it is wrong.
- It sounds fine to most people.
- "
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"Whether it be," though many people would use "is," not realizing it is wrong. It sounds fine to most people. If it is for a test or an English teacher or someone who knows a good deal about correct English usage, use "be;" otherwise, you may use "is." I would say, "be."
0Gene93Which sentence sounds better to you?
'whether it is' / 'whether it's' in both cases.
Personally, I find 'whether it be' pretentious and stuffy, pace Englishmaven.
CJ
0I disagree. I was just listening to MSNBC and the announcer, speaking of newspaper articles that might be written IN THE FUTURE and what paper they might appear in, said "...whether it be the New York Times or the Washington Post." My husband and I, both of whom have been professional writers (earned our livings in major US cities for 40+ years as writers), said that co
0
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