whether

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

Please read the following sentence:

"Whether it was that the stranger's tale was told, " Jorkens concluded, putting down his glass, "or that the influence of the strange wine was over, he fell then to silent brooding."

Is this structure correct?
Shouldn't it be:
"Whether it was due to the fact that the stranger's tale was told, " Jorkens concluded, putting down his glass, "or due to the fact that the influence of the strange wine was over, he fell then to silent brooding."

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

 

[Raymott]

Dear teachers,

Please read the following sentence:

"Whether it was that the stranger's tale was told, " Jorkens concluded, putting down his glass, "or that the influence of the strange wine was over, he fell then to silent brooding."

Is this structure correct?
Shouldn't it be:
"Whether it was due to the fact that the stranger's tale was told, " Jorkens concluded, putting down his glass, "or due to the fact that the influence of the strange wine was over, he fell then to silent brooding."

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

No, your variant sentences mean the same thing, and second is merely longer.
You could also say:
Whether it was the tale having been told, or the influence of the wine having been over, he fell then to a silent brooding.