Whether vs. If

'Whether' and 'if' are conjunction. They can be used interchangeably. In this lesson, we will learn their uses, similarities, and differences.

"Whether" vs. "If" in the English grammar

What Is Their Main Difference?

The main difference between 'whether' and 'if' is that 'if' is more common than 'whether.'

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 whether they are open for reservation.

He called the restaurant to see if they are open for reservation.

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 whether they will attend the party or not.

I'm not sure if they will attend the party or not.

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.

Comments

(0)
Loading Recaptcha...
Share on :

Recommended

Although vs. Nonetheless

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Although' and 'nonetheless' are synonyms. In this lesson, we will discover their similarities and differences.

Though vs. Even Though

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Though' and 'even though' may confuse learners as they are visually similar. In this lesson, we will discover their similarities and differences.

Though vs. However

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Though' and 'however' function as contrasting words. In this lesson, we will learn their uses, differences, and similarities.

Whether vs. Whether Or Not

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Whether' can be accompanied with 'or not.' In this case there is a small distinction between 'whether' and 'whether or not' which we will learn in this lesson.

Whether vs. Rather

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Whether' and 'rather' are confused by earners. In this lesson, we will learn their uses and differences.

Whether vs. That

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
Whether and that can be used to express alternatives. However, there is a distinction that we will discover in this lesson.
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app