(whether it's) A or not, ...
From the movie 'Brave':
Context:
Merida is the daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Ten years ago, King Fergus lost one of his legs while fighting Mor'du, a huge demon bear.
A witch transformed Elinor into a bear.
Merida: It's your wife, Elinor!
Fergus: You're talking nonsense!
Merida: It's the truth! There was a witch and she gave me a spell. It's not Mor'du!
Fergus: Mor'du or not, I'll avenge your mother! I'll not risk losing you!
In the last line, Fergus seems to be saying that, whether the bear is Mor'du or not, he'll avenge Elinor by killing the bear. And it seems that "whether it's" has been omitted.
If so, can you add 'whether' or 'whether it's' as follows?
Whether Mor'du or not, I'll avenge your mother!
Whether it's Mor'du or not, I'll avenge your mother!
Also, was the omission possible because Merida said "It's not Mor'du" in the third line?
Top answer
It would be proper to add 'whether' at the beginning, but the script is written in less formal verbiage. It denotes a quick, firm and instinctive response as opposed to a formulated response. The point is still made, albeit grammatically incorrect.
- It would be proper to add 'whether' at the beginning, but the script is written in less formal verbiage.
- It denotes a quick, firm and instinctive response as opposed to a formulated response.
- The point is still made, albeit grammatically incorrect.
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