If Vs Whether

Question

Can somebody explain when to use If and when to use whether

like in question

This decade has seen no end to the controversy over if state-run day care centers are a necessary response to changes in employment patterns

if is not correct , whether is right option among answers

BloombergKasia · Accepted Answer

"If" is used in the GMAT in Conditionals only. If you see "if" in a sentence and there's no condition, you should find an answer choice that uses "whether."

Example:
Incorrect:Michael did not know if Margaret was going to come.
Correct: Michael did not know whether Margaret was going to come.

Use "whether" when there is a choice between two possibilities dealing with the same subject.

Example: Jane is not sure whether she should change her job (or not).

"Or not" after "whether" is redundant.

Example:
Incorrect: Jane is not sure whether John is making dinner tonight or not.
Incorrect: Jane is not sure whether or not John is making dinner tonight.
Correct: Jane is not sure whether John is making dinner tonight.

aks456 · Answer

"If" is generally used for reasoning .. If/ then type of sentences... If this happens then this will happen.
Eg- If you finish your work by Five, you can leave early

and for Hypothetical sentences
Eg- If i work hard, I may get a good score in GMAT

"Whether" is used when we have choice between two options.
Eg-I need to decide whether i should Call her for the movie
I dont know whether i should study or go on my friends birthday

JusTLucK04 · Answer

Visit here to get a PhD on usage of Whether.. :-D

https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-sente ... s-whether/

addict1ve · Answer

I learned this from somewhere - to test whether usage of 'if' is correct, do a simple test.
Flip the sentence to a format of 'If..then..' statement - it it makes sense, it will be the right answer..

for example:
This decade has seen no end to the controversy over if state-run day care centers are a necessary response to changes in employment patterns

Inverting to 'if then' format looks like:
if state-run day care centers are a necessary response to changes in employment patterns   this decade has seen no end to the controversy over..

This actually doesnt make sense..

hope it helps..!!

Mahmud6 · Answer

Which one is correct? 
Whether.........or..........; whether x  or  y
Whether.........and........; whether x  and  y

JusTLucK04 · Answer

Depends on the context
Whether A and B should go to the party..Both should attend or not
Whether A or B should go to the party..Which of them should attend

sowragu · Answer

Here is the rule from GMATPREP.

IF - Use "IF" for condition statement.
WHETHER - Use "Whether" to show two possible alternatives.

How we will know whether to use "IF" or "Whether"?

A conditional statement can be reversed.

For example: If you prepare well for gmat, Then you will score 700 plus.
 You will score 700 plus, If you prepare well for GMAT. --> Makes sense. Hence usage of "IF" is correct here.

Example 2: Ram doesn't know WHETHER he will get a good score in GMAT.
 Ram doesn't know IF he will get a good score in GMAT.--> Replacing "Whether" with "If"
 IF he will get a good score in GMAT, then Ram doesn't know --> Reversing the order doesn't make sense. Hence usage of "Whether" is correct.

Use the reversing technique to determine whether to use "IF".

abansal1805 · Answer

Can someone kindly explain the difference between using Whether and If?
Thank You!

abhimahna · Answer

Hi, there has been a great explanation going on  here .

Please search before posting.

I have merged your topic with the existing one.

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi  abansal1805 , as mentioned above,  if  is used for a  conditional  sentence, whereas  whether  is used when the intent is to depict a  choice , an  alternative  or a  possibility .

A handy thing to remember is that two specific situations in which  whether  should be used are:

1. After prepositions 
2. After verbs

p.s. Our book    EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana    has a section that discusses   whether vs if  . Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.

Mkrishnabdrr · Answer

If condition, then result. 
Whether x or y. Whether is used to present comparison.

slk00 · Answer

I agree with most of your explanation, but "or not" is not redundant in all cases. When the 2 clauses stand apart, the alternative must be made explicit by introducing "or not" with "whether".
 Whether or not I get my bonus, I will buy a PS5.

If Vs Whether

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If Vs Whether

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