Translation of 'whether'

Question

To say 'whether great or small' is it correct to translate it as 'si gran o pequeno'. Would you then use the subjunctive?

The text is 'every nation whether great or small has at one time or another openly declared that it is superior'. My attempt is 'todas las naciones si gran o pequena han declarado ser superior en un tiempo o otro'

To say 'whether or not she will come' is it 'si venga o no'. Do you use the subjunctive as there is an element of doubt.

The more I think about it the more complicated it appears!

Thanks.

Answer 1

you can also avoid using any verb,

toda nación, grande o pequeña, ha en uno u otro momento... blablabla

Answer 2

Tanto si es grande como pequeño/a.

... nación, ya sea grande o pequeña,...

To say 'whether or not she will come' is it 'si venga o no'. Do you use the subjunctive as there is an element of doubt.

Most speakers will only use indicative in "No sé si viene" -the subjunctive here is rarely used, and most natives will think it is plain wrong.

Forget that absurd pseudo-rule that any element of doubt will demand subjunctive. It is false, and it is spread by people who don't speak the language well or have not studied grammar properly. I can give you thousands of examples where there is doubt, but not subjunctive, and subjunctive with absolute certainty. Wipe that absurd pseudo-rule as soon as you can.

Some sentences where there is doubt require subjunctive, but that doesn't mean that whenever there is doubt, there must be subjunctive. That is like saying that since in order to make a particular cake you need sugar, every cake you bake requires the use of sugar. So what about a fish cake or a ham and pepper cake? Are you going to put sugar in them as well? What about the rule "Sugar is used in cakes" (subjunctive is used to express doubt)? Nonsense! Sugar can be used -and it is often used- in cakes, but it is used for many other things, and there are cakes without sugar too. Sugar is used to make things sweet -that is a real rule. Subjunctive is used to avoid declarations -that is a real rule.