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Navitasan Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

If/whether

Are these sentences both correct:

1-Whether you love detective movies or hate them, you have to see this film.
2-If you love detective movies or hate them, you have to see this film.

If they are, is there any difference in the meanings?
I get the feeling that '1' is natural and '2' is not.
'1' seems to be saying it doesn't matter whether you love them or hate them. It seems to cover the whole range in between love and hate as well.
'2' seems to apply to two cases only. It seems to mean:
If you love detective movies, you have to see this film. AND If you hate detective movies, you have to see this film.

Gratefully,
Navi.
  

Top answer

1 is more correct (not strictly so, but in terms of natural use of the language) because the term 'whether' is better fitted to the context because you're giving people a mutually exclusive 'choice' of loving or hating the subject. The term IF is better suited to other types of clauses that I wont explain fully here:) However, the use of IF is still acceptable and understandable! In terms of meaning, both sentences ultimately say the same thing, and the use of 'whether' doesn't necessarily mean to include all the possibilities in between loving and hating, it would actually mean one or the other in this case so it's quite restrictive and all inclusive (not ranging between).

— Anonymous

  • 1 is more correct (not strictly so, but in terms of natural use of the language) because the term 'whether' is better fitted to the context because you're giving people a mutually exclusive 'choice' of loving or hating the subject.
  • The term IF is better suited to other types of clauses that I wont explain fully here:) However, the use of IF is still acceptable and understandable!
  • In terms of meaning, both sentences ultimately say the same thing, and the use of 'whether' doesn't necessarily mean to include all the possibilities in between loving and hating, it would actually mean one or the other in this case so it's quite restrictive and all inclusive (not ranging between).
  • EG you can apply the same language to a more restrictive set of parameters: Whether you vote yes or no, you have to consider my opinion.
  • If you vote yes or no, you have to consider my opinion.
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1 Answers
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1 is more correct (not strictly so, but in terms of natural use of the language) because the term 'whether' is better fitted to the context because you're giving people a mutually exclusive 'choice' of loving or hating the subject. The term IF is better suited to other types of clauses that I wont explain fully here:) However, the use of IF is still acceptable and understandable!

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