I asked him whether

USAGE SUMMARY

"I asked him whether" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone a question with two possible answers, such as "I asked him whether he wanted Chinese or Italian food for dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I asked him whether he wanted children.

The New York Times - Magazine

I asked him whether a younger C.E.O.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether these sculptures had names.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether he'd ever entered the lottery himself.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether hubris had contributed to his downfall.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether he had been to the beach.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether he considered himself a Jewish writer.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether this amounted to resistance to consumerism.

The New Yorker

I asked him whether these activities included transporting heroin.

The New Yorker

"I asked him whether he went to church or not.

The New York Times

I asked him whether he had a home network.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by sometimes using alternatives like "I inquired if" or "I wanted to know if" to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid adding "that" after "whether" when reporting an indirect question. The correct form is "I asked him whether he was coming", not "I asked him whether that he was coming".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I asked him whether" functions as an introducer of an indirect question. It reports a question that was posed, transforming a direct question into a subordinate clause. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in reporting inquiries across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I asked him whether" serves as a crucial tool for reporting indirect questions, primarily within news and media contexts. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. When using this phrase, remember that it introduces an alternative of two scenarios and it's better to avoid adding "that" after "whether". While alternatives like "I inquired if" or "I wanted to know if" exist, "I asked him whether" provides a clear and versatile way to convey reported questions. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and effectively use "I asked him whether" in your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I asked him if

Simplifies the phrase by omitting "whether", implying a yes/no question.

I inquired if

Replaces "asked him whether" with a more formal tone using "inquired if".

I wanted to know if he

Emphasizes the speaker's desire for information.

I questioned him about

Shifts the focus to the topic of the question rather than the yes/no nature of it.

I posed the question of whether

A more formal and emphatic way to introduce the query.

I probed to see if

Implies a more investigative approach to asking the question.

I put to him the matter of whether

Very formal and somewhat archaic, suitable for legal or official contexts.

I interrogated him regarding

Suggests a more intense or formal questioning.

I investigated whether he

Suggests a formal investigation into the subject of the question.

I canvassed him on the topic of whether

Implies asking multiple questions for detailed information.

FAQs

How do I use "I asked him whether" in a sentence?

Use "I asked him whether" to introduce an indirect question, reporting what you asked someone. For example, "I asked him whether he had finished his homework".

Is "I asked him if" the same as "I asked him whether"?

While similar, "I asked him if" and "I asked him whether" are subtly different. "Whether" is generally preferred when there are two clear alternatives, while "if" can be used more broadly for conditional inquiries. However, in many contexts, they are interchangeable. For example, "I asked him "if" he was coming" and "I asked him "whether" he was coming" are both acceptable.

What's the difference between "I asked him whether" and "I asked him what"?

"I asked him whether" introduces a yes/no question or a choice between two options, whereas "I asked him what" introduces a question seeking specific information. For example, "I asked him whether he liked the movie" (yes/no) versus "I asked him what he thought of the movie" (seeking his opinion).

Can I use "I asked him whether or not"?

Yes, using "I asked him whether or not" is grammatically correct and emphasizes that there are two possibilities being considered. However, it can sometimes sound redundant, so "I asked him whether" is often sufficient.