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English 1b3 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

whether or not...

Are all of these grammatical? Which do you prefer out of b, c, and d? Thanks

a. I doubt that it will rain today.

b. I doubt whether or not it will rain today.

c. I doubt whether it will rain today or not.

d. I doubt whether it will rain today.
  

Top answer

I would say only A, though the others aren’t ungrammatical. The combination doubt whether doesn’t really work for me. I would use don’t know instead.

— RandomGuy

  • I would say only A, though the others aren’t ungrammatical.
  • The combination doubt whether doesn’t really work for me.
  • I would use don’t know instead.
  • I don’t know if it will rain today.
  • I don’t know whether or not it will rain today.
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2 Answers
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I would say only A, though the others aren’t ungrammatical. The combination doubt whether doesn’t really work for me. I would use don’t know instead.

I don’t know if it will rain today.
I don’t know whether or not it will rain today.
I don’t know whether it will rain today or not.
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For this speaker of British English, a, d and 'I doubt if it will rain today' are all fine; b and c are not possible for me. These are also possible:

'I don't know if it will rain today (or not).'
'I don't know whether (or not) it will rain today.'
I don't know whether (or not) it will rain today (or not).'
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