Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Grammar/When-use-If-or-Whether"

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===the conditional tense===
===the conditional tense===
A sentence that can only be realized under certain conditions.
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.


==Use only "whether" when==
==Use only "whether" when==
===the word "or"===
===the word "or"===
*Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was staying in the city or going to the country side for the weekend.
*Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was staying in the city or going to the country side for the weekend.


===Verb with "to"===
===Verb with "to"===
*Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party.
*Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party.
==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".

Revision as of 15:46, 29 June 2017

When to use "whether" or "if" in English?

Use only "if" with:

the conditional tense

A sentence that can only be realized under certain conditions.

  • Bob didn’t know if Amanda was going away.

Use only "whether" when

the word "or"

  • Bob didn’t know whether Amanda was staying in the city or going to the country side for the weekend.

Verb with "to"

  • Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party.