Using ‘whether’ and ‘if’
For example:
• I have been thinking whether to further my studies.
(‘To further’ is an infinitive verb)
• I don’t know whether to buy the grey one or the black one.
• I don’t know if to buy the grey one or the black one. (x)
(4) When ‘whether’ starts a clause that is the sentence ‘subject’ or ‘complement’.
For example:
• Whether you pass or fail is not my concern. ( ) (‘Whether you pass or fail’ is the subject of this3 sentence.)
• I don’t care whether you pass or fail.
(‘Whether you pass or fail’ is the complement of the verb ‘to care’.) Use ‘if’ to introduce a condition (in a conditional sentence). In a conditional sentence, a condition has to be satisfied before something occurs.
For example:
• If you work for me, I’ll pay you twenty ringgit per hour.
• I will catch you if you fall. Very often, the ‘or not’ is not required. However, when ‘whether or not’ means ‘regardless of whether’, the ‘or not’ part is required.
For example:
• I am going to further my studies whether you like it or not.
(Regardless of whether you like it or not, I am going to further my studies.)
• The events on the annual sports day will go ahead whether it rains or not.
(Regardless of whether it rains or not, the events on the annual sports day will go on.)
The words ‘or not’ do not have to follow immediately after ‘whether’.
When can ‘or not’ can be omitted?
(1) The phrase ‘or not’ can be omitted when the word ‘whether’ introduces a noun clause used as the subject, object, or object of a preposition.
Examples:
• Whether or not you go is of no importance to me.
• Whether you go or not is of no importance to me.
• Whether you go or stay on is of no importance to me. (without ‘or not’)
( If the words ‘or not’ are omitted, there will probably be a statement of alternatives connected by or, as in this case “go or stay on”.)
(2) As a noun clause as object of the verb. In the sentences below, wonder is the verb. “Whether (or not) he’ll be selected to join the team” is the noun clause.
Examples:
• SureshCwondersCwhether he will be selected to join the team.
C •C SureshCwondersCwhether or not he will be selected to join the team. C •C SureshCwondersCwhether he will be selected to join the team or not.
(3) As the object of the preposition. In the sentences below, on is the preposition. “Whether (or not) May Ling wants to accept the offer” is the noun clause.
Examples:
C •C TheCdecisionCdependsConCwhetherCMayCLingCC
wants to accept the offer.
•C TheCdecisionCdependsConCwhetherCorCnotCMayCC Ling wants to accept the offer.
•C TheCdecisionCdependsConCwhetherCMayCLingCC wants to accept the offer or not.
CC‘Whether’ and ‘if’ can be used interchangeably in the following circumstances: Examples:
C •C ICamCunsureCwhether I will be attending the
meeting.
•C ICamCunsureCif I will be attending the meeting. ( (In this example, the yes/no question is “Am I attending the meeting?”)
CExamples:
C •C ICwouldClikeCtoCknowCwhether he is telling the truth or fabricating the story. •C ICwouldClikeCtoCknowCif he is telling the truth or fabricating the story.
CWhen we are talking about a choice between alternatives, use whether.
Example:
C •C RaneeCdidn’tCknowCwhether she should wear the red saree or the blue one.
(The giveaway is the presence of or between the alternatives.) Example:
C •C MelissaCwonderedCwhetherCorCnotCsheCshouldCC
wear the new dress.
You can usually drop the or not and use either whether or if.
Examples:
C •C MelissaCwonderedCwhether she should wear the blue dress.
•C MelissaCwonderedCif she should wear the blue dress.
CYou will need ‘or not’, if the meaning is ‘regardless of whether’.
Example:
C •C RashidCwantedCtoCwearCtheCgreenCshirtC whether it looked nice or not.
(Rashid wanted to wear the green shirt regardless of whether it looked nice or not.)
The formal rule is to use ‘if’ when you have a conditional sentence and ‘whether’ when you are showing that two alternatives are possible. )