Some phrases in the English language can be a little tricky to understand. One that often causes confusion is “whether or not.” In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about this common phrase, its usage, and how it differentiates from “whether.”
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Whether or Not Meaning: What is It?
“Whether or not” is a phrase that people use when they’re trying to communicate that something will happen regardless if the other condition is true.
Imagine you’re talking about two things: Event A and Event B. When you say “whether or not,” you can indicate that:
If Event A happens, Event B will happen. If Event A doesn’t happen, Event B will still happen.
Examples:
- Whether or not you think it’s the right choice, I am going to do it.
- Whether or not you agree with the lesson, you will still need to submit an essay.
- Whether or not you decide to come, we are still going to throw the party on Saturday.
- Whether or not it rains tomorrow, our wedding will still push through.
When to Use Whether or Not?
You can say this phrase to let someone know that an event or action is inevitable. “Whether or not” is useful when you need to explain to someone that it doesn’t matter what happens first because something else is definitely going to occur later.
How to Use Whether or Not?
You can use this phrase in the first sentence before mentioning the optional event and finally stating the event that is going to happen no matter what. You can also switch around the order of this phrase and still achieve the same meaning of the sentence.
For example, you can say “whether,” mention Event A, and then say “or not.”
Whether or Not vs. Whether: What’s the Difference?
The word “whether” and the phrase “whether or not” are not the same. The main difference is that “whether” can usually stand alone.
To see if it’s ok to use “whether” by itself, check if its clause is a noun or an adverb. If it is a noun, then “whether” can stand alone, but if the clause is an adverb, it can’t.
On the other hand, “whether or not” should typically be used when comparing two possible outcomes.
Which One to Use?
Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you could replace “whether” with the word “if,” then it’s an excellent choice to use this word. But in many sentences, “whether” and “whether or not” might have the same meaning. In these situations, you can often just use “whether” by itself. By doing so, you will make your sentences as simple as possible and avoid saying more than you need to.
Before a to-infinitive
Verbs are action words, like “running” or “ran.” We call the base forms of these verbs, such as “run,” infinitive. A “to-infinitive” is simply the combination of the word “to” and one of these base verbs. In such a scenario, the word “whether” works well.
Examples:
- I’m looking at the forecast so I can decide whether to run tomorrow.
- Have you decided whether you want to go on vacation?
- The dog decided whether to eat or play fetch.
Indirect Questions
An indirect question is a restatement of a question that is not an exact quote of the original question. So, when speaking about an indirect question, you can use “whether” or “whether or not,” depending on the situation.
Examples:
- They asked the president whether he had solved the issue.
- I called Jessica to find out whether or not she was angry with me.
- He asked his girlfriend whether she was hungry.
Subordinating Conjunction
Subordinating conjunctions are words that combine clauses or sentences. “Whether” and “if” are two examples of subordinating conjunctions.
Take a look at some examples of “whether” and “whether or not” used for this function. See how they connect two separate ideas in each example.
Examples:
- Whether you come with me or not, I’m going on this journey.
- Whether you want a dog or a cat, I’m buying you your own pet.
- Whether you wear pink or blue, you’ll look amazing at the ball.
Clause Modifies the Verb
A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb. If a “whether” clause directly modifies the verb of a sentence, then this is one situation where you do need to include “or not” in your sentence.
For these instances, you will probably be able to tell that the sentence would not make any sense without “or not” added to it.
Examples:
- I’m going to leave tomorrow whether or not you like it.
- She will tell the truth whether or not her parents get angry.
- I want to be a singer whether or not I become famous.
Clause Is the Subject of the Sentence
The subject of a sentence is the noun which is performing the action of the sentence. So, if your clause is the subject of the sentence (or the person, place, or thing doing the main verb of the sentence), you can use “whether” by itself.
Examples:
- Whether I can go to the party depends on if I get my homework done.
- Whether our team will win depends on how well they play.
- Whether I should go to the beach or the mall is the question.
Clause Is the Object of a Preposition
Prepositions are words that explain where one thing is in relation to another. Words like “on,” “in,” and “after” are examples of prepositions. So, when your “whether” clause is the object of a preposition, you do not need to add the words “or not.”
Examples:
- My choice of college hinges on whether the school has a good reputation.
- The success of our mission depends on whether you can keep this secret.
- The state of our friendship is influenced by whether we spend time together.
Clause Is the Object of a Verb
In this case, adding “or not” after the word “whether” is redundant because it is already understood that the only other option is for the event in question not to happen.
Example:
- I wonder whether the class is over yet.
- Tony asks whether the theme park will open on time.
- She’s checking whether the temperature is hot or cold.
Final Thoughts
In many cases, “whether” and “whether or not” can be used in the same way. However, when in doubt, try saying the sentence without “or not.” If the sentence construction still makes sense, then you probably only need to use “whether.”
