Whether is used to talk about a choice between possibilities, often in an indirect question: I don't know whether he'll come. Whether … or not means that the result will be the same either way: Whether you agree or not, the rules won't change.
How would you use whether?
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know/ask/decide + whether + clause; whether + to + verb; preposition + whether + clause; Whether … or not, + clause
- Researchers are still debating whether social media makes teenagers less happy.
- Whether people live in cities or in the countryside, they need reliable internet access.
- Can you check whether the pharmacy is still open?
What changed
First versionIf you like it or not, the exam is on Monday.
RevisionWhether you like it or not, the exam is on Monday.
If can introduce both a condition and an indirect question, so it seems a natural choice here. But at the start of a sentence, if … or not does not give the meaning “it makes no difference whether”. For that meaning, you need whether … or not.
In indirect questions, if and whether are often interchangeable: I asked if the shop was open. But in some places only whether works: before to + verb (whether to stay), after a preposition (It depends on whether he agrees) and at the start of a sentence with or not. In essays, whether sounds more formal, so it is the safer choice.
Your turn
Nobody has told us ___ to bring our own laptops to the training.
Show the answer
whether — The gap is followed by to + verb: to bring. Only whether can come before this form. If to bring is not possible in English.
Write about a decision you are thinking about right now. Use whether … or and name both options.
I'm trying to decide whether to renew my gym membership or start running in the park.
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