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Le tarif fluctue suivant que le bateau passe par le canal ou non.

Le tarif fluctue suivant que le bateau passe par le canal ou non.
The rate fluctuates depending on whether the boat goes through the canal or not.
From Lesson 430:Alternative conditions (selon que, suivant que)·French

Questions & Answers about Le tarif fluctue suivant que le bateau passe par le canal ou non.

Why is passe in the indicative and not the subjunctive after suivant que?
Even though many expressions ending in que trigger the subjunctive, suivant que and selon que take the indicative. This is because they set up a choice between factual possibilities, rather than expressing doubt, emotion, or necessity. Here, the fact is that the boat either goes through the canal or it doesn't.
Could I use selon que instead of suivant que in this sentence?
Yes, selon que and suivant que are completely interchangeable. Both mean "depending on whether" and both require the indicative mood.
Why use par for "through" instead of à travers?
When talking about a route, itinerary, or transit point (going "via" or "by way of" somewhere), French uses par. À travers is used for physically crossing a three-dimensional space or obstacle, like walking through a forest or looking through a window. Since the canal is a route the boat takes, passe par is the right choice.
Can I say ou pas instead of ou non?
Absolutely. In everyday spoken French, ou pas is very common. Ou non is just a bit more formal and often preferred in written texts, but both work perfectly to mean "or not" at the end of this sentence.

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