Whether or not (if/although)

Question

"It is unknown whether or not he was telling the truth."

This sentence means the same as -

"It is unknown if he was telling the truth."

"It is unknown whether he was telling the truth."

"It is unknown whether he was telling the truth or not."

Does it also mean: "It is unknown although he was telling the truth."

Have you seen here: grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/if_and_whether.htm — Cardinal, Commented Oct 6, 2015 at 9:14

Chu Wa Tim Tim · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-06 09:20:33Z

2

In all the examples above, the word "it" here is an empty subject to "whether or not he was telling the truth".

However in your question, the word "it" is not an empty subject to "even though he was telling the truth", it seems to mean other things.

So no, they are not the same. "Even though" changes the grammatical fucntion of the word "it".

answered Oct 6, 2015 at 9:20

Chu Wa Tim Tim

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When whether or not means regardless of whether, the or not part is required. So, with "or not part", I think "It's unknown, whether or not he was telling the truth." also means "Although he was telling the truth, It's unknown."
– Bora
Commented Oct 6, 2015 at 9:33
+1 This is exactly right. It in the final sentence refers to some preceding matter, and the although clause qualifies the assertion that "it" is unknown.
– StoneyB on hiatus
Commented Oct 10, 2015 at 14:44

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