一、引导宾语从句
这时两者的含义区别很小,一般可通用.
I don't know whether/if they will come to help us.
但是,当whether与or not连成一个词组时,whether不可换用if.
I don't know whether or not they will come for our help.
若whether和or not不连在一起,在口语中可以用if取代whether,当然也可以用whether.
I don't care if/whether your car breaks down or not.我不在乎您的车是否是会出故障.
此外,还有三种情况值得注意:
(1)在介词后面只能用whether,不能用if.
I am not interested in whether you'll come or not.
(2)在
动词不定式之前,只能用whether,不能用if.
He doesn't know whether to stay or not.
(3)在及物运动discuss后的宾语从句中,只能用whether,不能用if.
We discussed whether we should make a change in our plan.
二、引导主语从句
只能用whether,不能用if.
It is unknown whether he will come.
Whether the news is true remains a question.
三、引导表语从句
只能用whether,不能用if
The question is whether they can take our advice.
四、引导同位语从句
常用whether
The question whether he'll come is unknown.
五、可以用来引导一个否定的宾语从句,whether则不能用来引导否定的宾语从句,因为它表示正反两方面的选择意义比较强.
Tell me if it is not going to rain,please.
六、if除引导宾语从句外,还可以引导
条件状语从句,作“是否”解.在容易引起混淆产生歧义的情况下,就不可用if,而须用whether.
Please let me know if you intend to come.这个句子有两种解释:A:“请让我们知道你是否想来.” B:“如果你打算来,请让我们知道.”在书面语中,如果我们想表达的第一种含义,就得用whether来改写第一句.
Please let me know whether you intend to come.
通俗来讲,whether在大多数情况下都可以用,而if则不然,有wether和if时一般选wether不会有错,但是如果所需的意思是"如果",自然只能选if了。