Whether

We usewhetherin indirectyes-noquestions and questions withor. We can’t leave outwhether(orif):

They asked mewhether(if) I was tired.(original question:Are you tired?)

Not:They asked me I was tired.

I want to find outwhether(if) the rooms have a shower or not.

Not:I want to find out the rooms have a shower or not. (original question:Do the rooms have a shower or not?)

We don’t useeitherin indirect questions:

We can’t saywhethertourism is harmful or beneficial.

Not:We can’t say either tourism is harmful or beneficial.

We usewhether … orto introduce a clause giving two options or alternatives:

I can’t decidewhetherto paint the wall greenorblue.(or to paint the wall blue)

She didn’t knowwhetherhe was laughingorcrying.

When the subject of the main clauseis the same as the subject of thewhether-clause(s), we can usewhether to+ infinitive orwhether+ a finite clause. When the subject of the main clause is different from the subject of the subordinate clause, we have to use a finite clause.

We usewhether … or notorwhether or notto give an opposite alternative:

We use the title Ms rather than Mrs (married woman) or Miss (unmarried woman) when we don’t knowwhethera woman is marriedor not.

I’m not surewhether or notto go to camping this weekend.

We often usewhether … or notto mean ‘it’s not important if’ or ‘it doesn’t matter if’. We don’t useeitherin this way:

He always said what he thought,whetherit was politeor not.

Not: …either it was polite or not.

We can usewhether … or notin front or end position with this meaning. We use it in orders or commands:

Whetheryou like itor not, you’re going to have to look after your sister.

(orYou’re going to have to look after your sister,whetheryou like itornot.)