if何引|起条件状语从句,whether不用于状语从句。
whether可引起主语从句,表语从句,if不能用于这两种情况。
if在名词性从句中只能引导动词后的宾语,whether可通用。
if和whether在宾语从句中,都表“是否”,可换用,if更口语化,whether正式些。
一、if和whether都可译为“是否”,二者引导宾语从句时通常可以互相替换,口语中多用if代替whether。
例如:Ask if/whether he plans to come to the meeting. 而以下几种情况中, 只能用whether:
1、强调两方面的选择,特别是句中有or not时。如: Let me know whether you can come or not.
2、宾语从句前置时。如: Whether this is true, I can't say.
3、引导主语、表语、同位语从句时。如: Whether the football game will be played depends on the weather. (主语从句)The question is whether he can do it. (表语从句)The question whether we should go with them must be decided at once. (同位语从句)
4、在介词之后作介词的宾语时。如: I haven't settled the question of whether I'll go back home.
5、在不定式前与不定式一起组成词组时。如: Whether to go or stay is still a question.
6、在discuss, decide 等动词后作宾语时。如: We discussed whether we should go there by plane.
二、if或whether引导宾语从句时,作“是否”讲,常放在动词ask 、see 、say 、know和find out等后面。一般情况下,两者常可换用,在口语中多用if。
如:例1 Nobody knows whether (if) it will rain tomorrow. 没有人知道明天是否下雨。
例2 Lucy asked whether (if) they had a cotton sweater .露西问他们是否有棉制的羊毛衣。