If or whether

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Can I use ''whether'' and ''if'' interchangeably and is ''or not'' necessary?

1.''Let's find out whether/if she comes or not.''
2.''Let's ask him if/whether he knows her address or not.''

 

[tedmc]

1.''Let's find out whether/if she comes or not.''

2.''Let's ask him if/whether he knows her address or not.

Can I use ''whether'' and ''if'' interchangeably Yes

and is ''or not'' necessary? No

 

[Rachel Adams]

1.''Let's find out whether/if she comes or not.''

2.''Let's ask him if/whether he knows her address or not.

Can I use ''whether'' and ''if'' interchangeably Yes

and is ''or not'' necessary? No

But if I use it the sentence will not be wrong. Right?

 

[tedmc]

But if I use it the sentence will not be wrong. Right?

It is not wrong but is not how a native speaker would write it.

 

[tedmc]

This native speaker might use 'or not'.

Well, probably in spoken English, but I don't think so in writing.

 

[jutfrank]

Let's find out if/whether she's coming or not.

Both if and whether are fine but I prefer whether because the idea is that there are two possibilities. The or not works well to place focus on both possibilities.

 

[jutfrank]

Well, probably in spoken English, but I don't think so in writing.

Why so? Can you explain what you mean?

What do you mean by 'writing'? This utterance is obviously part of spoken discourse, even if appearing in text form.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

But if I use it the sentence will not be wrong. Right?

They would be grammatical and understandable but not natural.

In the US, we use "or not" and "or what" to express impatience:

- Well? Did they pay you or not?

- Make up your mind. Do you want some or not?

- Are you coming or not?

- Are you coming or what?

- Is she kidding or what?

- Are you crazy or what?

 

[jutfrank]

This doesn't have to do with US English. The or not simply suggests the negative outcome.

It is often used with a tone of impatience, yes, but not necessarily.

 

[tedmc]

Why so? Can you explain what you mean?

What do you mean by 'writing'? This utterance is obviously part of spoken discourse, even if appearing in text form.

It is common in spoken English rather than written English.

 

[jutfrank]

It is common in spoken English rather than written English.

I don't think you need any evidence for this claim, but my point was that the sentence in question is spoken English. Right? Even if it were written as part of a chat message or some other written medium of spoken English.

 

[Tarheel]

I think the "or not" would usually express annoyance or impatience. But there may be another reason for it.

 

[Rachel Adams]

They are perfectly natural in BrE.

The addition of 'or not' can express impatience, as in your examples, but not normally with 'whether' or 'if'. As jutfrank explained, it works well to place focus on both possibilities.

So without whether and if my sentence would clearly express either impatience or annoyance.As in, is she coming or not? Do you like it or not?

 

[bubbha]

In formal written English (e.g., scholarly papers), you should use "whether" and avoid using "or not".

 

[Rachel Adams]

Let's find out if/whether she's coming or not.

Both if and whether are fine but I prefer whether because the idea is that there are two possibilities. The or not works well to place focus on both possibilities.

Sorry, I don't understand. Why do you prefer ''whether?''

 

[jutfrank]

Sorry, I don't understand. Why do you prefer ''whether?''

Read my sentence again—I explained exactly why.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Sorry, I don't understand. Why do you prefer ''whether?''

''If'' doesn't suggest that there are two possibilities?

 

[GoesStation]

''If'' doesn't suggest that there are two possibilities?

No. Although you can use "if" when suggesting two possibilities, "whether" usually works better.

 

[jutfrank]

''If'' doesn't suggest that there are two possibilities?

Not essentially, although in your sentence it does. That's why it is possible. However, whether works better to make it clear that there are only two outcomes.

 

[emsr2d2]

Doesn't ''if'' [STRIKE]doesn't[/STRIKE] suggest that there are two possibilities?

Note the correct construction of a question above. Although you will hear native speakers, in informal speech, making a statement and then using a rising intonation at the end to indicate that it's a question, we discourage learners from doing the same, and definitely from doing it in written English (unless it's a direct quote).