Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Grammar/When-use-If-or-Whether"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Use only "if" when:== | ==Use only "if" when:== | ||
===With the conditional tense=== | |||
A sentence that can only be realized under certain conditions. | |||
*Bob didn’t know if Amanda was going away. | *Bob didn’t know if Amanda was going away. | ||
| Line 12: | Line 13: | ||
==Use "whether" or "if" when== | ==Use "whether" or "if" when== | ||
===one of the issues is induced but understood, as in an indirect question=== | |||
*Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was going away on Saturday. | *Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was going away on Saturday. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 23: | ||
==Use only "whether" when== | ==Use only "whether" when== | ||
===we find a verb in the infinitive with "to"=== | |||
*Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party. | *Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party. | ||
===we find a preposition=== | |||
*Bob wanted to have a conversation with Amanda about whether she was away for the weekend. | *Bob wanted to have a conversation with Amanda about whether she was away for the weekend. | ||
===the word "or" is used=== | |||
*Bob didn’t know whether to call or text to find out about her plans. | *Bob didn’t know whether to call or text to find out about her plans. | ||
===when the part of the sentence beginning with the conditional is the subject of the sentence=== | |||
Whether Amanda could come or not, Bob was still going to throw the party, even if it was for Amanda's birthday. | *Whether Amanda could come or not, Bob was still going to throw the party, even if it was for Amanda's birthday. | ||
Revision as of 12:56, 29 June 2017
When to use "whether" or "if" in English?
Use only "if" when:
With the conditional tense
A sentence that can only be realized under certain conditions.
- Bob didn’t know if Amanda was going away.
You must use "if" when you show that there are only two possible outcomes:
- Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was staying in the city or going to the country side for the weekend.
Use "whether" or "if" when
one of the issues is induced but understood, as in an indirect question
- Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was going away on Saturday.
- Bob didn’t know if Amanda was going away on Saturday.
In this example, the term "or not" is induced. So, Amanda might not leave on Saturday. Since the second option does not need to be stated, you can use either "if" or "if".
Use only "whether" when
we find a verb in the infinitive with "to"
- Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party.
we find a preposition
- Bob wanted to have a conversation with Amanda about whether she was away for the weekend.
the word "or" is used
- Bob didn’t know whether to call or text to find out about her plans.
when the part of the sentence beginning with the conditional is the subject of the sentence
- Whether Amanda could come or not, Bob was still going to throw the party, even if it was for Amanda's birthday.