One of the questions that learners often ask is: “What is the difference between whether and if?” It is a great question, so let’s have a look at some of the main uses for each word!
When to use if
We use if in conditional sentences, when we talk about something that might happen or might have happened. For example:
You can go if you want.
She gets very upset if I exclude her.
We also use if in indirect questions or polite requests where the answer is “yes” or “no”. However, whether is also acceptable:
He asked if I had left with you. / He asked whether I had left with you.
I wonder if she’s coming. / I wonder whether she’s coming.
I wonder if you’d be kind enough to give us some information, please? / I wonder whether you’d be kind enough to give us some information, please?
Whether sounds more formal, so it is the better choice in written English.
Note that you can only use if at the start of the sentence in indirect questions; you cannot substitute ‘whether’:
If you will just sign here, please.
When to use whether
We use whether when we are talking about a choice between two or more alternatives. In this case, you can use whether at the start of the sentence:
I don’t know whether they’ve found anybody yet.
They have two weeks to decide whether or not to buy.
Whether it turns out to be a good idea or a bad idea, we’ll soon find out.
Notice that “whether or not” is a very common phrase. You cannot use if here.
We also use whether to say that something is true in all circumstances:
You’ll burn fat whether you’re working out or fast asleep.
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