his coming

[John]

Are these all OK?

1. I am not sure of his coming.
2. I am not sure of whether he comes.
3. I am not sure of whether he will come.
4. I am not sure whether/if/that he comes.
5. I am not sure whether/if/that he will come.

Thanks.

[Rusty]

Are these all OK?

1. I am not sure of his coming.
2. I am not sure of whether he comes.
3. I am not sure of whether he will come.
4. I am not sure whether/if/that he comes.
5. I am not sure whether/if/that he will come.

Thanks.

1. I am not sure of his coming. (OK).
2. I am not sure <strike>of</strike> whether he comes.
3. I am not sure <strike>of</strike> whether he will come.
4. I am not sure whether/if/that he comes. (OK).
5. I am not sure whether/if/that he will come. (OK).

[Fine Tree]

Hi,

1. I am not sure whether/if/that he comes.
2. I am not sure whether/if/that he will come.

Q1. Do these all have basically the same meaning when we use either 'whether/if' or 'that'?

Q2. Are these noun-clauses or adverb-clauses? I think they are all noun-clauses. Am I right?

Q3. What is the difference in meaning between #1 and #2? I think 'whether/if/that he comes' means a usual habit and 'whether/if/that he will come' means a specific case. Am I right?

Thanks in advance.

[Pete]

Hi,

1. I am not sure whether/if/that he comes.
2. I am not sure whether/if/that he will come.

Q1. Do these all have basically the same meaning when we use either 'whether/if' or 'that'?

Q2. Are these noun-clauses or adverb-clauses? I think they are all noun-clauses. Am I right?

Q3. What is the difference in meaning between #1 and #2? I think 'whether/if/that he comes' means a usual habit and 'whether/if/that he will come' means a specific case. Am I right?

Thanks in advance.
A1. Yes. All 3 versions of sentence 1 mean the same, and all 3 versions of sentence 2 mean the same. Although all 3 versions are common and standard, some people prefer to reserve "if" for adverb clauses in conditional sentences and to use "whether" or "that" in noun clauses.

A2. Right, they are noun clauses.

A3. Right. I think #1 by itself is unlikely; we need some context to understand it, since it is not clear what he usually comes to.