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Anonymous Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

That or if

What is the difference between that and if?

I don’t know that/if I prefer that to this.

Thank you

  

Top answer

This is an interesting question for a native speaker, and hard to answer. The meaning is approximately the same: "I don't know my preference in this situation. " If there is a difference it is a fine nuance.

— Anonymous

  • This is an interesting question for a native speaker, and hard to answer.
  • The meaning is approximately the same: "I don't know my preference in this situation.
  • " If there is a difference it is a fine nuance.
  • For example: With "if," the given sentence sounds like a standard question: the speaker is not sure of his preference in this situation.
  • "That" would not often be heard because it makes the sentence sound aggressive and loud.
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2 Answers
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This is an interesting question for a native speaker, and hard to answer. The meaning is approximately the same: "I don't know my preference in this situation. Is it for that or for this?" If there is a difference it is a fine nuance. For example:


With "if," the given sentence sounds like a standard question: the speaker is not sure of his preference in this situation.

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[1] I don’t know that I prefer that to this.

[2] I don’t know if I prefer that to this.


The meanings are similar, but the grammar of the underlined elements is different.

In [1] it is a declarative content clause, where the meaning is similar to I'm not sure that I (do) prefer that to this.


In [2] it is a subordinate interro

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