Whether vs. If
'Whether' and 'if' are conjunction. They can be used interchangeably. In this lesson, we will learn their uses, similarities, and differences.
What Is Their Main Difference?
Parts of Speech
'Whether' and 'if' are conjunctions. They are classified as subordinating conjunctions. They connect an independent clause with a dependent clause.
He called the restaurant to see
He called the restaurant to see
Meaning
'Whether' and 'if' are used to introduce conditions. They express the happening of an event that relies on something else to happen.
I'm not sure
I'm not sure
Formality
'Whether' is more formal than 'if' in spoken English. While they are equally formal in written English.
Frequency
'Whether' is less common than 'if' in both written and spoken English.
Tip!
As mentioned earlier, 'whether' and 'if' are interchangeable. However, it is advised to use 'if' when the sentence is conditional and use 'whether' to express alternatives.