Clarification from "Tip"

Thalia C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Clarification from "Tip"

Can someone please explain the second part of this sentence (in the "Tip" box of the lesson)? I'm not clear what "...and not regardless of which, like with verbs such as..." part of the sentence means.

You won't use this in Indirect Speech where whether = if and not regardless of which, like with verbs such as se demander (to wonder) or savoir (to know). 



Asked 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hahahaha, the text in that box is impossible to wrap one’s head around. Beats me. But if you want to say “whether” in indirect speech, you don’t use que but si. 

Il se demandait si elle viendrait. -- He wondered whether she’d come. (Indirect speech, imperfect tense)

Je me demande si elle vas venir. -- I wonder whether (if) she's coming. (Indirect speech, present tense)

Je me demande qu’elle vienne ou pas. -- I wonder whether she’s coming or not. (Using the rule that que+subjonctif is "whether..or not".

Thalia C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you, Chris!  I feared I was having a stroke when I read this sentence several times and it read like a complete jumble of nonsensical words.

Clarification from "Tip"

Can someone please explain the second part of this sentence (in the "Tip" box of the lesson)? I'm not clear what "...and not regardless of which, like with verbs such as..." part of the sentence means.

You won't use this in Indirect Speech where whether = if and not regardless of which, like with verbs such as se demander (to wonder) or savoir (to know). 



Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Getting that for you now...