1. whether引导的从句常可以与连词or或or not直接连用,而if一般不能。如:
正(right): Let me know whether you can come or not.
误(wrong): Let me know if you can come or not.
2. 当宾语从句提到句首时,只能用whether引导,而不能用if。如:
正(right) Whether it is true or not, I can’t tell.
误:(wrong) If it is true or not, I can’t tell.
3. whether可以引导带to的不定式,if则不能。如:
正(right)I don’t know whether to accept or refuse.
误:(wrong) I don’t know if to accept or refuse.
4. whether及其引导的成分可放于介词之后,作介词的宾语,但if不能。如:
正(right): I worry about whether I hurt her feelings.
误:(wrong) I worry about if I hurt her feelings.
5. whether可以引导从句,作主语、表语或同位语,而if不能。如:
正(right) It was uncertain whether he would come.
误:(wrong) It was uncertain if he would come.
正(right):His first question was whether Tom had arrived yet.
误:(wrong) His first question was if Tom had arrived yet.
正:(right) We must consider the question whether we will take these measures.
误:(wrong) We must consider the question if we will take these measures.