Why was John concerned to be perfect, ...

[Piermo]

Hello, everyone.
Can two clauses be used in the same question?

—Why was John concerned to be perfect, whereas Mary was unconcerned about flaws?

Or they need to be separated in two questions:

—Why was John concerned to be perfect? Whereas, why was Mary unconcerned about flaws?

Thank you!

 

[jutfrank]

Can two clauses be used in the same question?

—Why was John concerned to be perfect, whereas Mary was unconcerned about flaws?

Yes, that's fine.

 

[Flask]

Can two clauses be used in the same question?

—Why was John concerned to be perfect, whereas Mary was unconcerned about flaws?

Or they need to be separated in two questions:

—Why was John concerned to be perfect? Whereas, why was Mary unconcerned about flaws?

I'd like to note that the two examples are not equivalent in meaning. In the first, the "whereas"-clause is subordinate, and Mary's being unconcerned about flaws is not being asked about; it is simply assumed as a point of contrast with John's being concerned to be perfect. The speaker is only asking for an explanation of John's being concerned to be perfect.

In the second example, which consists of two sentences, you do not have a "whereas"-clause, but a separate independent interrogative clause (a separate question) introduced by "Whereas" as a transitional word, functioning like the phrase "In contrast." If you wish to use one question for both independent clauses, you could use one of my favorite constructions:

Why was John concerned to be perfect, and Mary unconcerned about flaws?

 

[Tarheel]

Hello, everyone.
Can two clauses be used in the same question?

—Why was John concerned to be perfect, whereas Mary was unconcerned about flaws?

Or they need to be separated in two questions:

—Why was John concerned to be perfect? Whereas, why was Mary unconcerned about flaws?

[..............]

Can two clauses be used in the same question? Of course!

Perhaps:

Why was John obsessed with perfection, but Mary was unconcerned about flaws?

I would avoid the use of "whereas" because to me it's too much like legal language.

 

[Piermo]

I'd like to note that the two examples are not equivalent in meaning. In the first, the "whereas"-clause is subordinate, and Mary's being unconcerned about flaws is not being asked about; it is simply assumed as a point of contrast with John's being concerned to be perfect. The speaker is only asking for an explanation of John's being concerned to be perfect.

In the second example, which consists of two sentences, you do not have a "whereas"-clause, but a separate independent interrogative clause (a separate question) introduced by "Whereas" as a transitional word, functioning like the phrase "In contrast." If you wish to use one question for both independent clauses, you could use one of my favorite constructions:

Why was John concerned to be perfect, and Mary unconcerned about flaws?

Thank you for the explanation!

 

[tedmc]

I would avoid the use of "whereas" because to me it's too much like legal language.

I think it's only when "whereas" is used in the beginning of a sentence that it sounds like legal language.