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Sleepless Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Whether + subjunctive ?

Dear All,

Is the following sentence gramatically correct with the indicative or the subjunctive:

"Night strikes can play a part here, whether they are pre-emptive or a reaction to previous attacks."

"Night strikes can play a part here, whether they be pre-emptive or a reaction to previous attacks."

My Microsoft Word programme suggests the indicative... should I go with it? Emotion: wink

Thanking you in advance.
whether they be pre-emptive or a reaction to actual securitising moves.
  

Top answer

" Both are used. The fixed expression "whether they be" (or "whether it be") is a hold-over from the days when English used the subjunctive a great deal more than it does today. CJ

— CalifJim

  • " Both are used.
  • The fixed expression "whether they be" (or "whether it be") is a hold-over from the days when English used the subjunctive a great deal more than it does today.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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sleeplessIs the following sentence gramatically correct with the indicative or the subjunctive:

"Night strikes can play a part here, whether they are pre-emptive or a reaction to previous attacks."

"Night strikes can play a part here, whether they be pre-emptive or a reaction to previous attacks."
Both are used. The fixed expression "wh
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