BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Difference between "whether" and "if"?

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 2:58 pm

Difference between "whether" and "if"?

by Derek1988 » Wed Dec 29, 2010 3:07 pm
Hello, I am an italian future test GMAT test maker and as every non-native english speaker, I have troubles with SC

One of mine major problems is the usage of wether and if. Time to time you can found some SC questions where the different usage between "wether" and "if" is needed to be known in order to solve the question: can someone explain me when "wether"/"if" is required and when it is not?

tnx a lot
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:01 pm
Thanked: 147 times
Followed by:3 members

by anshumishra » Wed Dec 29, 2010 5:21 pm
Derek1988 wrote:Hello, I am an italian future test GMAT test maker and as every non-native english speaker, I have troubles with SC

One of mine major problems is the usage of wether and if. Time to time you can found some SC questions where the different usage between "wether" and "if" is needed to be known in order to solve the question: can someone explain me when "wether"/"if" is required and when it is not?

tnx a lot
Have a look here : https://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_c ... hether.htm
Thanks
Anshu

(Every mistake is a lesson learned )
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:39 am
Location: Montreal, Canada
Thanked: 22 times
Followed by:20 members

by Isaac@EconomistGMAT » Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:58 pm
Hi there.

In brief, 'if' is used in various conditional sentences in the condition part of the sentence. Notice then that one part/clause shows a condition (the 'if' clause) and the other clause shows the result of the condition. For 'if' sentences your job is to learn the various types of conditionals (how these sentences are constructed, what verb tenses to use, and what the exceptions are).

Examples:
If I go, she will follow.
If I ate the cake, I would be happy.
I would have gone to the fair if I had heard about it on time.

'Whether' is used to show an option between two choices or deals with a yes/no option.

Examples:
I am not sure whether I want an apple or an orange. (choice between two possibilities)
He hasn't decided whether he will go (or not). (yes he will go or no he will not go)

Note that when dealing with the latter type (yes or no) it is considered redundant to include 'or not'; in other words do not include the 'or not') so that the correct form now looks likes this:

He hasn't decided whether he will go.



[/u]
Isaac Bettan
Academic Director
Master GMAT
https://econgm.at/EconomistGMAT
[youtube]QBNZczg84tU[/youtube]
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1