Practice
Whether vs if: questions, choices, and conditions
Sign in to saveI do not know if the shop is open. I do not know whether the shop is open. Both sentences ask for the answer yes or no. But if the shop is open, I will buy the charger means something different: the opening of the shop is a condition for my plan.
Choose whether or if in an indirect yes-or-no question, and use if for a condition that may affect the result.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I do not know whether the train is late or if it has left already. /aɪ dəʊnt nəʊ ˈweðə ðə treɪn ɪz leɪt ɔːr ɪf ɪt hæz left ɔːlˈredi/
The short answer
Use whether or if for many indirect yes-or-no questions. Use whether before or not, after a preposition, and before to plus a verb. Use if when you mean a condition and a possible result.
Please tell me whether the meeting is online or in person.
Why it works: Whether introduces two stated choices. If does not fit naturally before or in this pattern.
5 more examples
-
I cannot remember whether the dentist is open on Friday.
Whether introduces an indirect question. The answer can be yes or no.
Not this:
If the dentist is openon Friday, I can make an appointment. What changes: If introduces a condition. An open office makes the appointment possible. -
Marta asked if the café accepts cards.
If introduces an indirect yes-or-no question after asked. Whether is also possible here.
Not this:We will sit outside
if the weather stays dry. What changes: The dry weather is the condition for sitting outside. Whether cannot replace if in this meaning. -
Please check whether the parcel has arrived or not.
Use whether with or not when both possible answers are stated.
Not this:Please check
if the parcel has arrived. What changes: If is possible when the sentence simply asks for a yes-or-no answer and does not add or not. -
The decision depends on whether the team has enough time.
Whether follows the preposition on. Use whether, not if, after a preposition.
Not this:
If the team has enough time, it can finish the report today. What changes: This is a condition followed by its possible result, so if is the right word. -
Leo has not decided whether to take the earlier train.
Whether can come before to plus a verb when someone must make a choice.
Not this:
If Leo takesthe earlier train, he will arrive before lunch. What changes: If introduces the condition that leads to an earlier arrival.
Read the full guide
First decide what the sentence is doing. If someone wants to know the answer to a yes-or-no question, whether and if are often both possible: I asked whether the bus was late and I asked if the bus was late. If the sentence gives a condition, use if: If the bus is late, we will walk. Then check for patterns where English requires whether.
Start with the meaning of the sentence
Ask whether the speaker needs an answer or is giving a condition. An indirect question asks for information. A conditional sentence says what can happen when a condition is true.
I need to know if the pharmacy is open.
The speaker needs a yes-or-no answer about the pharmacy. Whether is also possible.
If the pharmacy is open, I will collect the medicine.
The pharmacy being open is the condition for collecting the medicine.
Does the sentence ask for information, or does it describe a condition?
Choose whether or if for many indirect questions. Use if for a condition and its result.
Use either word in many indirect questions
After verbs such as ask, know, find out, check, and remember, both whether and if can often introduce an indirect yes-or-no question. The sentence keeps normal statement order.
Nora asked whether the class starts at nine.
The question inside the sentence is Does the class start at nine? The answer is yes or no.
Nora asked if the class starts at nine.
If has the same indirect-question meaning in this sentence.
Which word order is correct: I wonder if the class starts at nine, or I wonder if does the class start at nine?
Use I wonder if the class starts at nine. Indirect questions use normal statement order.
Choose whether with stated alternatives
Use whether when you give alternatives with or, including or not. This form makes the possible choices clear, even if the speaker does not know which one is true.
We need to decide whether to walk or take the bus.
Whether introduces the two choices. It comes before the alternatives joined by or.
I do not know whether or not the keys are in the drawer.
Whether or not includes both possible answers. Do not use if or not in this pattern.
Complete the sentence: Please tell us ___ you can attend or not.
Use whether because the sentence includes or not.
Use whether after a preposition and before to
A preposition needs whether before an indirect question. Common patterns include depend on whether, worry about whether, and talk about whether. Use whether before to plus a verb when a person must choose an action.
They talked about whether the museum would be busy.
About is a preposition, so whether follows it. About if is not standard English.
I am trying to decide whether to apply for the course.
Whether to apply names a choice about a future action. If to apply is not used in this pattern.
Choose the word: It depends on ___ the manager agrees.
Use whether after the preposition on.
Keep if for conditions
Use if when one situation may cause, allow, or change another situation. In a common future pattern, use a present form after if and put will in the result clause.
If the printer stops again, call the support desk.
The printer stopping is the condition for making the call.
We will leave early if the traffic becomes heavy.
Heavy traffic is the condition. The future result is We will leave early.
Which word fits a condition: ___ the road is closed, we will use another route.
Use if because the road closure changes the plan.
Before you go
Remember this
Use whether or if for many indirect questions with a yes-or-no answer. Use whether before or not, after a preposition, and before to plus a verb. Use if for a condition and its possible result. Keep normal statement order after whether or if inside an indirect question.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Whether vs if: questions, choices, and conditions"
What is the main difference between whether and if?
Whether and if can both introduce many indirect questions with a yes-or-no answer: I asked whether the café accepts cards and I asked if the café accepts cards. If also introduces conditions, as in If the café accepts cards, we can pay by card. Whether does not replace if in that conditional meaning.
I cannot remember whether the dentist is open on Friday.
Can I use if instead of whether in an indirect question?
Usually, yes. After verbs such as ask, know, check, and find out, either word can often introduce a yes-or-no question. Can you check if the train stops at Riverside? and Can you check whether the train stops at Riverside? have the same basic meaning. Keep normal statement order after the word.
If the dentist is open on Friday, I can make an appointment.
Why do I need whether before or not?
Use whether when you state both alternatives with or not: We need to know whether or not the hall is available. Whether can also introduce two choices joined by or, such as whether to walk or take the bus. If is common in simple indirect questions, but it does not fit naturally in these forms.
Marta asked if the café accepts cards.
Why is whether used after a preposition?
After a preposition, use whether before an indirect question. The plan depends on whether the supplier can deliver on time is correct because on is a preposition. Say whether after about, on, or from in this kind of sentence; do not use if directly after the preposition.
We will sit outside if the weather stays dry.
Can I say if to do something?
No. When you describe a choice about an action, use whether to plus the verb: They are still deciding whether to move. If has a different use in a conditional sentence, such as If Sam accepts the new job, he will start in October.
Please check whether the parcel has arrived or not.