Nominalizing の or inquiring ん?

In the sentence どうして先生は私にこれほど辛く当たるのだろう is the の there to nominalize 当たる (make it into a noun) or is it a version of the softening/inquiring ん (like sentences that end in のですが)? Would the sentence be the same with 当たるんだろう?

5 comments
  1. The sentence with の is the formal way to say it. The other one with ん makes it more casual. That seems to be the only difference to me.

  2. i’m not sure anyone outright answered your main question-

    it’s inquiring, and not nominalizing

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