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Pructus Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Whether ~ were

Hello....

Mary called me to ascertain whether John were dining at the club.

Can it have two meanigns?

a. Mary called me to ascertain whether John was in the process of eating at the club.

b. Mary called me to ascertain whether John was going to eat at the club in the future.
  

Top answer

Mary called me to ascertain whether John was dining at the club. Yes, both meanings are possible. In the case of (b), it would mean the (then) near future normally.

— GPY

  • Mary called me to ascertain whether John was dining at the club.
  • Yes, both meanings are possible.
  • In the case of (b), it would mean the (then) near future normally.
  • You can also say "would be" for the future case.
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5 Answers
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Mary called me to ascertain whether John was dining at the club.

Yes, both meanings are possible. In the case of (b), it would mean the (then) near future normally. You can also say "would be" for the future case.
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Oh, I see... I see...
Thanks so much, GPY!!

And also thanks to you, fivejedjon for stopping by...
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Hello...


Mary called me to ascertain whether John were dining at the club.

Can this sentence also mean "Mary called me to ascertain whether John usually dined at the club", referring to habitual things, not one time thing?

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pructusMary called me to ascertain whether John were was dining at the club.
pructus! You haven't corrected that mistake yet!
pructusCan this sentence also mean "Mary called me to ascertain whether John usually dined at the club", referring to habitual things, not one time thing?
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Oh, I see... I see...

And I forgot to correct the "were" into "was"...
I can't believe I forgot that...

Thanks so much, CJ~!!
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