"WHETHER" can't be replaced with "IF" sometimes???

Question

Can you use "whether" like this?You can't replace "whether" with "if" in the first?1 As long as I am allowed to only wear one, whether it's that one or this one, it's okay by me.2 Email Removed" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(58, 88, 151); text-decoration: none; "&gt;Do you know whether it's me who's supposed to pay or them?Thank you

BillJ · Accepted Answer

alc24Can you use "whether" like this?

You can't replace "whether" with "if" in the first?

1 As long as I am allowed to only wear one, whether it's that one or this one, it's okay by me.

2 Do you know whether it's me who's supposed to pay or them?

The simple answer is yes, you can and no, you can't replace "whether" with "if" in the first.

The highlighted expressions are called 'closed interrogative content clauses', but they don't ask questions directly, they express them in an indirect way. Generally in closed interrogatives, the interrogative subordinators "if" and "whether" are interchangeable, but not always, as your examples demonstrate. In 1. the clause is an adjunct (an optional element) that expresses the alternative questions "Am I allowed to wear that one or am I allowed to wear this one". Specifically, it's a supplement to the noun "one" which acts as a kind of 'anchor' (or 'host'). In supplements, where there's a choice between two cases, "whether" is the usual subordinator.

By contrast, the clause in 2. is complement (object, to be precise) to the verb "know"; the interpretation is "Do you know the answer to the question 'is it me who's supposed to pay or them?"' This time, the 'whether' clause is not optional - you can't remove it because it's essential to complete the meaning of the verb "know". With this kind of interrogative clause, "whether" and "if" are interchangeable.

BillJ

"WHETHER" can't be replaced with "IF" sometimes???

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