Grammar-Quizzes › Connectives › Subordinators › If vs. Whether
If vs. Whether
Express a condition vs. an alternative option
If or Whether in a conditional statement and a restated question
| CONDITIONAL STATEMENT | |
|---|---|
Use if in a present or future conditional to express uncertainty about whether an action will occur. In the event the particular action (condition) occurs, then the other event is likely to occur. ( If X is true, then do Y.) This is for a single occurrence not routine responses to a situation. (See If vs. When.) |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | CONDITIONAL |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | IF + CLAUSE [PP] |
Please call me |
if you get cellular (phone) reception. "in the situation that" |
I will call you
|
if I have cell reception. |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | WHETHER + CLAUSE [PP] |
I will call you
|
*whether I have cell reception. |
| RESTATED QUESTION WITH ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS | |
|---|---|
Use if or whether to restate a question with alternative options: (1) polar-opposite [yes or no] , (2) alternative [X or Y] , or (3) one [of two]. In many cases, if and whether can be used interchangeably without affecting the meaning; however, there are some differences. (See sections below.) |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORDINATED QUESTION |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | WHETHER + CLAUSE [Cls] |
My friend asked |
whether or not I had cell reception. (yes/no) whether I had cell reception or not. |
My friend asked
|
whether I had one or two bars. (X or Y) |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | IF / WHETHER + CLAUSE [Cls] |
He wanted to know |
whether I had cell (phone) reception. (yes) if I had cell (phone) reception. (yes) |
*not used / ~borderline usage
alternative (N/Adj) – being one or the other
restated question — also called an indirect question, embedded question, subordinated question (See Grammar Notes below.)
if—in a conditional statement is a connective preposition. The structure is a prepositional phrase [PP]. See Connective Prepositions or Conditionals.
if or whether—in an embedded question is a subordinator. The structure is a subordinated clause [Cls]. See Subordinators, Yes/No Question Clauses, If vs. Whether (in subordinate clauses) | Pop-Q "If / Whether".
Whether or not X / Whether X or not—or not occurs after whether or after the option. The meaning does not change.
If or Whether with Two Options
Express alternative options as possible answers
If or Whether in restated yes/no questions
| IF…OR | |
|---|---|
If is more commonly used to express one option as an answer. (The other option can be understood from the context.) |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORDINATED QUESTION |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | IF + CLAUSE |
He asked me |
if my phone was receiving cell service. if my phone was receiving cell service or not. (informal) |
He wasn't sure |
if I was using ATT or Verizon mobile service. (informal) |
| WHETHER…OR | |
|---|---|
Whether is more commonly used to express alternatives (yes/no, X/Y) |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORDINATED QUESTION |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | WHETHER + CLAUSE |
He asked me |
whether my phone was receiving cell service. whether my phone was receiving cell service or not. |
He wasn't sure |
whether I was using ATT or Verizon mobile service. |
Whether After a Preposition
Commenting on a situation
If or Whether after a preposition
| VERB + PREP + IF | |
|---|---|
After a verb + preposition (VP), if sounds awkward with alternative (polar) options. Use whether instead. |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORDINATED QUESTION |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | IF + CLAUSE |
I was concerned about |
*if we could receive a mobile phone signal or not. |
We were interested in |
* if we could receive a mobile phone signal on the mountain top or not. |
We're not sure about |
*if we could receive a mobile phone signal there or not. |
| VERB + PREP + WHETHER | |
|---|---|
|
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORDINATED QUESTION |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | WHETHER + CLAUSE |
I was concerned about |
whether we could receive a mobile phone signal or not. |
We were interested in |
whether we could receive a mobile phone signal on the mountain top or not. |
We're not sure about |
whether a mobile phone would work there or not. |
*not used / ~borderline usage
mobile phone signal/cellular reception—relative signal strength sent from a cell tower to a mobile phone
Whether before an Infinitive or "Bare Infinitive"
Expressing alternatives
Whether before alternatives
| WHETHER + ALTERNTIVE OPTIONS | |
|---|---|
After some verbal expressions—I don't know, can't decide, am unsure, wonder, will ask, will inquire, will decide—whether + an infinitive clause expresses potential (possible, not actual) alternative options. (If is not normally used.) |
|
| MAIN CLAUSE | ALTERNATIVES |
| SUBJ + PREDICATE | WHETHER + INFIN CLAUSE |
I can't decide |
whether to move to the right or to the left. Should I move to the right or to the left for better reception? |
It was unclear |
whether to stand in the middle of the room or near the window. |
| WHETHER + EXAMPLES | ||
|---|---|---|
After a noun phrase, whether can be added to express potential (possible, not actual) alternatives or examples.The plain form "be" (infinitive without "to") expresses speculation "whether it may be X or Y". (If is not used.) |
||
| SUBJECT + PREDICATE | MODIFIER–ALTERNATIVES | PRED + COMP |
| NOUN PHRASE | WHETHER + PLAIN FORM | REST OF CLAUSE |
An internet service provider |
whether it be Verizon or AT&T (examples) |
needs to have good coverage. |
A mobile phone maker |
whether it be Apple or Samsung |
must offer the very latest technology. |
Nonfinite Infinitive Clauses (and plain form) | Bare Infinitives
(Huddleston 11 §5.2)
If or Whether as a Verbal Complement
Express doubt about a situation
If or Whether clause as a verbal complement
| IF |
|---|
If is commonly used after a subject and predicate expressing doubt. (I don't know, who knows, can you tell me, I have no idea, etc.) Some formal usage limits if to use before a clause with a single option and a single situation. |
| WILL MY PHONE WORK HERE? |
I don't know if my mobile phone will work here. |
I have no idea ~if my mobile phone will work here or not. |
Do you know ~if my phone will work better inside or outside. |
Who knows ~if my phone will work better inside or outside. |
| WHETHER |
|---|
|
| WILL MY PHONE WORK HERE? |
I don't know whether my mobile phone will work here. (single situtation) I don't know whether my mobile phone works here. (anytime) |
I have no idea whether my phone will work here or not. I have no ideawhether or not my phone will work here. |
I'm unsure whether my mobile phone will work better inside or outside. I don't have a clue whether he owns a Samsung or Apple phone. |
*not used / ~borderline or informal usage
Also see Yes/No Question Clauses (whether)
Whether in Formal Use
Express an alternative in reported speech
If or Whether in formal use
| IF | |
|---|---|
If is not commonly used in formal contexts when introducing an alternative clause. (This is an unusual, old rule that is still included in college English entrance exams.) |
|
| FORMAL | IF + CLAUSE |
The President declined to say |
*if he would give up his personal Blackberry. |
The Congressman was uncertain |
*if the health bill would pass. |
| INFORMAL | IF + CLAUSE |
My friend didn't say |
if she would give up her mobile phone. |
Bob was uncertain |
if his son would pass the 5th grade. |
| WHETHER | |
|---|---|
Whether (or not) introducing an alternative clause is used both formally and informally. |
|
| FORMAL | WHETHER + CLAUSE |
The President declined to say |
whether he would give up his personal Blackberry. |
The Congressman was uncertain |
whether the health bill would pass. |
| INFORMAL | WHETHER + CLAUSE |
My friend didn't say |
whether she would give up her mobile phone. |
Bob was uncertain |
whether his son would pass the 5th grade. |
*not used / ~borderline usage
If vs. Whether
Does the clause allow "fronting"?
If or Whether
| IF | |
|---|---|
If + clause is not placed at the beginning of a sentence when introducing an alternative. (However, if before a conditional statement can occur at the beginning; if allows "fronting". See Conditionals.) |
|
| SUBJECT CLAUSE | VERB + COMPLEMENT |
*If the battery is charged That the battery is charged¹ |
is my biggest concern. (NOT used) |
*If my mobile phone works there |
is a mystery to me. (NOT used) |
| SUBJECT CLAUSE | VERB + ALTERNATIVE |
My biggest concern |
is if the battery is charged (or not). (uncommonly used) |
It is a mystery to me |
if my mobile phone works there (or not). (uncommonly used) |
| CONDITIONAL IF + CLAUSE | RESULT CLAUSE |
If my mobile phone works there, |
I'll be surprised. (condition - commonly used) |
If the battery is charged, |
my phone works well. (condition - commonly used) |
| WHETHER | |
|---|---|
Whether + clause is usually placed at the beginning of a sentence when introducing an alternative. (The alternative words or not are optionally included.) |
|
| SUBJECT CLAUSE | VERB + COMPLEMENT |
Whether (or not) the battery is charged |
is my biggest concern. (alternative) |
Whether my mobile phone works there |
is a mystery to me. (alternative) |
| SUBJECT CLAUSE | ALTERNATIVE |
My biggest concern |
is whether the battery is charged (or not). (alternative) |
It is a mystery to me |
whether (or not) my mobile phone works there . (alternative) |
| CONDITIONAL IF + CLAUSE | RESULT CLAUSE |
Whether or not the battery is charged, |
my phone doesn't work. (no condition exists - even if) |
Whether or not my mobile phone works there, |
I won't accept calls. (no condition exists - even if) |
*not used / ~borderline usage
fronting (N) – is a property of some connectors which allow the placement of the connector and its clause before the main clause. After he finished, he went home. [supports fronting]; *And he worked at home, she took a walk.[does not support fronting]. Also see Coordinators–Fronting.
¹Compare: *If the battery is charge is my biggest concern. ⇒ ~That the battery is charged is my biggest concern. ⇒ It is my biggest concern that the battery is charged. (A that-clause in the subject position sounds better when moved after "it". See "It" as Subject Placeholder and "It" Extraposition.
Summary
Whether vs. if
Summary of uses for whether vs. if
| IF |
|---|
In the following situations, speakers favor using if. |
| REPORTED SPEECH |
I asked them if they were leaving. |
| SLIGHTLY LESS FORMAL |
I asked him if he is going to visit. (informal context) |
| CONDITIONAL |
I asked him questions if he was not to busy. |
| WHETHER |
|---|
In the following situations, speakers prefer using whether. |
| WITH WORDS USED IN FORMAL CONTEXTS |
We inquired whether the President would attend the summit meeting. (investigate, explain, examine, study, decide, determine) |
| WHEN STRESSED IN SPEECH |
We must ask ourselves whether we will accept failure. |
| BEFORE "OR NOT" / REGARDLESS |
We are leaving whether you like it or not. (no option exists) |
| DOUBT + "OR NOT" / ALTERNATIVE |
We don't know whether we are going or not. (doubt, can't say, be uncertain— about an alternative) |
| BEFORE AN INFINITIVE |
We can't decide whether to leave or to stay. |
| AFTER A PREPOSITION |
We were worried about whether you would like it. |
| AFTER "THE QUESTION IS…" |
The main question is whether they are going also. (the problem is, the undecided point is) |
| INITIAL POSITION / SUBJECT |
Whether are going is the question. |
Related page Yes-No Question Cls.
Grammar Notes (Advanced)
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Traditional / ESL and Linguistic Descriptions
| TRADITIONAL DESCRIPTION |
|---|
Noun Clauses Beginning with If or Whether. When a yes/no question is change to a noun clause, whether or if is used to introduce the clause. I don't know if / whether she will come. (Azar 13-3)
If , whether |
| LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
|---|
If , whether
Construction where only whether is permitted.
Construction where if is favored:
(Huddleston 11 §5.2) |
Categories: NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective; Subord – Subordinator; Coord – Coordinator; Interj – Interjection
Functions: Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complement: elements required by the verb: object, indirect object, predicative complement Adjuncts: (optional modifiers) Adj, Adv
Works Cited
- Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
- Biber, Douglas, and Stig Johansson, et al. Longman Grammar Of Spoken And Written English. Pearson Education, 1999.
- Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.
Practice
Beach Rules
Signs at the entrance to a beach in Greece
If or Whether?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 1-10" button.