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What is the difference between "whether" and "if"?



 
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What is the difference between "whether" and "if"? #1 (permalink) Fri Sep 15, 2006 16:11 pm   What is the difference between "whether" and "if"?
 

Please read:
1. I asked him whether he had done all the work himself or whether he had had any assistance.
2. I asked him whether he had done all the work himself or he had had any assistance.
3. I asked him if he had done all the work himself or if he had had any assistance.
4. I asked him if he had done all the work himself or he had had any assistance.

I think all are correct? Am I right?

Quoc
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Whether/if #2 (permalink) Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:00 am   Whether/if
 

Yes, Quoc, but I would repeat the conjunction for each choice:

I asked him whether/if he had done all the work himself or whether/if he had had any assistance.
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Whether/if #3 (permalink) Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:23 am   Whether/if
 

Hi,

Whether hints at the idea of yes or no. I asked him if he had finished is simply the indirect version of: Have you finished? I asked him whether he had finished is more open and suggests: Have you or haven't you?

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