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In the pattern `～よう ～まい`, I've found from several sources that you can use `が`
and `と` (i.e `～ようが ～まいが`), and using one over the other doesn't change the
meaning or have a particular nuance. What's confusing me is that I've found
[one
instance](http://www.renshuu.org/index.php?page=grammar/individual&id=634#mhead751)
of this pattern using `か`, and I can't find if there is anything in particular
that distinguishes it from the `が / と` version or not, or if it's a typo, or
what. Can anyone shed some light on this?
CC BY-SA 4.0
2012-06-03T22:38:58.707
5736
2019-06-27T07:12:18.913
2019-06-27T07:12:18.913
921
question
grammar particles
What particles can be used in the ～よう〇　～まい〇 pattern?
…ようか…まいか and …ようが…まいが have different meanings. The fact that they have the
same English translation “whether … or not” is a coincidence.

The English expression “whether … or not” has two different usages: (1) as a
noun clause, and (2) as an adverbial clause. For example:

(1) I wonder _whether_ I will write to her _or not_.  
(2) I will go to New York tomorrow _whether_ it rains _or not_. (= I will go
to New York tomorrow _no matter whether_ it rains _or not_.)

…ようか…まいか means (1), whereas …ようが…まいが means (2). Therefore, possible
translations of the two sentences above are:

(1) 彼女に手紙を書こうか書くまいか迷う。  
(2) 明日、雨が降ろうが降るまいがニューヨークに行く。

(But I think that in (1), …ようか…まいか puts a heavy emphasis on the “whether … or
not” part. A usual way to say (1) without this emphasis is 彼女に手紙を書くかどうか迷う.)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-05T23:11:30.127
5749
2012-06-06T00:24:38.710
2012-06-06T00:24:38.710
15
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answer