When do we use 'if' and when do we use 'whether'?
Let's take a look.
The simple rule is that with conditional sentences
we use 'if', and when we have two options, we
use 'whether'.
'If I get hungry, I’ll have a snack.'
'But, I don’t know whether to have an apple
or a biscuit.'
When asking an indirect yes/ no question,
we can use either 'if' or 'whether' - both are
correct.
'Do you know if the apples are fresh?'
'Do you know whether the biscuits are any good?'
'Whether' is maybe a little bit more formal,
but with both questions there are only two
possible answers – yes or no.
Why don’t you try now! Write us a question
or a sentence using 'if' or 'whether' in the comments
to practise. We love hearing from you.