Language/English/Grammar/When-use-If-or-Whether
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When to use "whether" or "if" in English?
Use "if" or "whether" (Interchangeable):[edit | edit source]
Whether and if can be used interchangeably in the following circumstances:
When reporting yes/no questions.[edit | edit source]
- I am not sure whether I will be attending the event.
- I am not sure if I will be attending the event.
(In this example, the yes/no question is "Am I attending the event?")
or[edit | edit source]
- I would like to know whether it is a true story or fabricated.
- I would like to know if it is a true story or fabricated.
Note: Using whether is far more common. It is certainly more formal.
Use only "if" with:[edit | edit source]
the conditional tense[edit | edit source]
A sentence that can only be realized under certain conditions.
- Bob didn’t know if Amanda was going away.
Use only "whether" when[edit | edit source]
Verb with "to"[edit | edit source]
- Bob didn’t know whether to invite Amanda to the party.
With "or not"[edit | edit source]
- Whether or not you want me to, I am going to the party.