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If Whether

The document discusses the proper usage of "if" and "whether" when introducing conditional clauses or questions. It states that "if" should be used to introduce a condition, while "whether" should be used in all other circumstances, such as introducing alternatives, following prepositions, or beginning clauses that are the subject of a sentence. It provides examples to illustrate the different uses of "if" and "whether".

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Ana Romero Arévalo
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
62 views

If Whether

The document discusses the proper usage of "if" and "whether" when introducing conditional clauses or questions. It states that "if" should be used to introduce a condition, while "whether" should be used in all other circumstances, such as introducing alternatives, following prepositions, or beginning clauses that are the subject of a sentence. It provides examples to illustrate the different uses of "if" and "whether".

Uploaded by

Ana Romero Arévalo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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if

whether
Use ONLY "if" to
introduce a
condition.
What would Max do if he lost his
job?

I'll come to your party if you


invite me.

If I had missed the train, I


wouldn't have arrived on time.
Use “IF“ /
WHETHER …
Whether/if with alternatives
I don't know whether/if I'll go to
the party on Saturday (or not).
Whether/if to report a question

Are you going to the party?

She asked me whether/if


I was going to the party
(or not).
Use ONLY
“whether" ...
Whether FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE

I don't know
whether to go to
the party or not
Whether AFTER PREPOSITIONS

It depends on
whether I get home
early or not.
When whether begins a clause which
is the subject of a sentence.

Whether we go to
the party or to the
cinema makes no
difference to me.
When followed directly by 'or not'

I'll be happy
whether or not we
go to the party.
TO MAKE A LONG
STORY SHORT…
Use "if" to introduce a
condition.

In all other
circumstances, use
"whether."
My sister can't decide
…………………………………… to buy
a bicycle to go to work.
My sister can't decide
whether to buy a bicycle to
go to work.
Tom asked Julie …………..
she'd like to go to the
cinema on Saturday.
Tom asked Julie if/whether
she'd like to go to the
cinema on Saturday.
"You've got to go to school
…………….. you like it or not!"
said Charlie's mother.
"You've got to go to school
whether you like it or not!"
said Charlie's mother.
Caroline might come. It
depends on ………………..
she can borrow her dad's
car or not.
Caroline might come. It
depends on whether she
can borrow her dad's car or
not.
………….. I buy a cake or
make one myself won't
make it less fattening!
Whether I buy a cake or
make one myself won't
make it less fattening!
……………… we want to admit
it or not, we all wish
everyone would like us.
Whether we want to admit
it or not, we all wish
everyone would like us.
I really don't know ………………
to finish him or not.
I really don't know whether
to finish him or not.
‘Can I have a piece of cake?’
Doug asked.

WHETHER

Doug asked ________________


another piece of cake.
‘Can I have a piece of cake?’
Doug asked.

WHETHER

Doug asked whether he could


have another piece of cake.
Are we meeting David in the
morning or the afternoon?’
Karen asked.

WHETHER

Karen wondered ______________


in the morning or the afternoon.
Are we meeting David in the
morning or the afternoon?’
Karen asked.

WHETHER

Karen wondered whether they


were meeting David in the
morning or the afternoon.
John wasn’t sure whether he
could come to the party.

MIGHT

John thought he ______________


come to the party
John wasn’t sure whether he
could come to the party.

MIGHT

John thought he might not be


able to come to the party
It’s your decision whether you
take the job or not.

UP

It’s ________________ whether


you take the job or not.
It’s your decision whether you
take the job or not.

UP

It’s up to you whether you take


the job or not.
Have you been on holiday
recently, Jane?’ asked Tony.

BEEN

Tony asked Jane _____________


on holiday recently.
Have you been on holiday
recently, Jane?’ asked Tony.

BEEN

Tony asked Jane if/whether she


had been on holiday recently.
‘Have you seen my gloves anywhere,
Eric?’ asked Mrs Noble.

SEEN

Mrs Noble asked Eric ____________


her gloves anywhere.
‘Have you seen my gloves anywhere,
Eric?’ asked Mrs Noble.

SEEN

Mrs Noble asked Eric if he had seen


her gloves anywhere.
‘Do you think we’ll win?’ Jack
asked me.

IF

Jack asked me ________________


win
‘Do you think we’ll win?’ Jack
asked me.

IF

Jack asked me if I thought we


would win
‘Have you been smoking again?’
he asked his daughter.

HAD

He asked his daughter __________


again.
‘Have you been smoking again?’
he asked his daughter.

HAD

He asked his daughter if she had


been smoking again.

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