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Vsuresh Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

whether or not

Hi
She wanted to know whether he had a car or not.

Is or not necessary here?

Please give your comments.
  

Top answer

If you rewrite the sentence this way - She wanted to know if he had a car. then no, it's not necessary. Otherwise, I think your sentence should be written like this - She wanted to know whether or not he had a car.

— Chipw

  • If you rewrite the sentence this way - She wanted to know if he had a car.
  • then no, it's not necessary.
  • Otherwise, I think your sentence should be written like this - She wanted to know whether or not he had a car.
  • This version just reads and sounds more smooth, in my opinion.
  • The way you have it written - She wanted to know whether he had a car or not.
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5 Answers
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If you rewrite the sentence this way -
She wanted to know if he had a car.
then no, it's not necessary.

Otherwise, I think your sentence should be written like this -
She wanted to know whether or not he had a car.
This version just reads and sounds more smooth, in my opinion.

The way you have it written -
She wanted to know whether he had a c
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Thank you, chipw.

I am trying to learn how it is different from ,"She wanted to know if he had a car."

Does this not give the same meaning as, "She wanted to know whether or not he had a car"?
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Using 'whether or not' implies that the answer to the question will make no difference either way - he has a car or he does not have a car.

The sentence "She wanted to know / if or whether or not / he had a car" is in the simple past tense. Using 'had' puts the sentence in the past. In spoken english, in context, it could be interpreted as present tense though.

Mayb
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vsureshIs or not necessary here?
No. "or not" commonly occurs with a whether-clause, but it's never required.

CJ
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