it doesn't matter whether to say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"

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kadioguy

kadioguy

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Do you mean ... it doesn't matter whether I/we say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"?

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...Did-you-mean?p=1537583&viewfull=1#post1537583
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a. Do you mean ... it doesn't matter whether I/we say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"?
b. Do you mean ... it doesn't matter whether to say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"?

I think (b) can be seen as reduced from (a); both can be used and have the same effect. Am I right?
 
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I prefer (a) with the subject (I/we) stated. In fact, I don't think (b) is correct without the subject.
Why is there the "..." in the sentence?
 
tedmc said:
I prefer (a) with the subject (I/we) stated. In fact, I don't think (b) is correct without the subject.
Click to expand...
Thank you, tedmc. :)

tedmc said:
Why is there the "..." in the sentence?
Click to expand...

The original version was 'Do you mean if there is no change of the answer, it doesn't matter whether I/we say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"?'

I thought the blue part was unnecessary for my question, so I omitted it.
 
kadioguy said:
Now I think what you meant is that the key to decide whether to use this present simple is whether the speakers are presently engaged the conversation ....
Click to expand...

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/274903-Do-you-mean-Did-you-mean?p=1537737&viewfull=1#post1537737

Do you think the green part should be the following?

... the key to decide whether we use this present simple ...

But in the Oxford Advanced Learner's English-Chinese Dictionary 4th ed. I also found an example sentence where no subject in the whether-clause:

4OXYaZH.jpg
 
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kadioguy said:
a. Do you mean ... it doesn't matter whether I/we say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"?
b. Do you mean ... it doesn't matter whether to say "Yes, I did" or "Yes, I do"?

I think (b) can be seen as reduced from (a); both can be used and have the same effect. Am I right?
Click to expand...
No. Sentence B is incorrect.
 
GoesStation said:
No. Sentence B is incorrect.
Click to expand...
Thank you, GoesStation. :)

Do you think the sentence (where no subject in the whether-clause) is incorrect?

The question is whether to go to Munich or Vienna.

How about this one?

It doesn't matter whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
 
kadioguy said:
Do you think the sentence (where no subject in the whether-clause) is incorrect?

The question is whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
Click to expand...
That's correct.

kadioguy said:
How about this one?

It doesn't matter whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
Click to expand...
That's wrong. Look closely and I think you'll see the difference between these two sentences.
 
GoesStation said:
Look closely and I think you'll see the difference between these two sentences.
Click to expand...
I tried but couldn't figure it out. :oops:
I don'understand why. They look the same pattern to me. Could you please explain?
----------------
c.
The question is whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
=
Whether to go to Munich or Vienna is the question.

d.
It doesn't matter whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
=
Whether to go to Munich or Vienna doesn't matter.
 
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kadioguy said:
I tried but couldn't figure it out. :oops:
I don'understand why. They look the same pattern to me. Could you please explain?
----------------
c.
The question is whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
=
Whether to go to Munich or Vienna is the question.

d.
It doesn't matter whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
=
Whether to go to Munich or Vienna doesn't matter.
Click to expand...

In (c), the subject is "the question".
What is the subject in (d)?
 
tedmc said:
In (c), the subject is "the question".
What is the subject in (d)?
Click to expand...
I think in (d) "it" is a dummy subject and the real subject is "whether to go to Munich or Vienna".

Please see another example:

It doesn't matter how old you are.

Here, I think the real subject is "how old you are".
 
kadioguy said:
I think in (d) "it" is a dummy subject and the real subject is "whether to go to Munich or Vienna".

Please see another example:

It doesn't matter how old you are.

Here, I think the real subject is "how old you are".
Click to expand...

You have rightly identified the subject, "how old you are", not just "how old".
 
Whether to go to Munich or Vienna is the question.
Click to expand...

The question is whether to go there or not. - the subject is the question.

Whether to go to Munich or Vienna doesn't matter.
Click to expand...
Whether to go to Munich of Vienna is not complete as a subject.


 
Say:

It doesn't matter whether we go to Munich or Vienna.
 
Don't use 'wh- infinitives' with it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter whether to go to Munich or Vienna. :cross:

You can, however, use 'wh- clauses' with it doesn't matter:

It doesn't matter whether we go to Munich or Vienna. :tick:
 
Thank you, jutfrank. :)

Do you think this structure is grammatically correct?

Whether to go to Munich or Vienna is the question.
 
It is grammatically correct, yes, but it's better to reverse it, like this:

The question is whether to go to Munich or Vienna.
 
kadioguy said:
Do you think this structure is grammatically correct?

Whether to go to Munich or Vienna is the question.
Click to expand...
It's grammatical, but in most situations it would be more natural the other way around.
 
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