When and how do we use "if"? That's "or not" in "whether or not"autonecessary?
AlthoughIt seems a little strange, it's natural to ask these tricky questions every now and then.
Given all the misleading rules in each language's grammar, perhaps only Mr. Chomsky has no such problems.
Well, there's no need to worry. Let's understand the pros and cons behind these conjunctions right away.
Content
What is the difference between using "ob" and simply "ob"?
In fact, adding "or not" to an ob clause is often redundant or superfluous, since the conjunction "ob" inherently implies a binary choice. However, the explicit use of "if" would be necessary if we want to convey the meaning "it doesn't matter", meaning that an action is possible despite certain circumstances, eg B. "Tonight's party has to go on, rain or not ."
"Will it or won't" vs. "Will be" in detail
OConnection"if" has a synonymous meaning of "which or any".
This means that it implies a dichotomy of two options included in the constructed sentence.
Its main purpose is to present the listener or reader with a binary choice, i.e. H.Apparently, more formal and polite in most cases.
On the other hand, we can openly use "whether or not" when we want to restrict or manipulate the outcome of what we are trying to achieve.
So the decision to use "if" isor"whether" alone depends on the intent or purpose of the language user.
To make the distinction clearer, let's look at some examples, particularly declarative sentences.
Examples of "whether or not" in a sentence
It is better to use "whether or not" in cases where we want to suggest the meaning ofhowever, despiteortrotz.
in particularThis happens when the intention of the writer or speaker is to apply persuasion to the desired result.
Furthermore, it is useful when we want to clarify the desired result and convince the other party.
Here are some examples to illustrate the explanationoffered.
I'm going to the party whether you like it or not.
The example sentence evokes the subject's belief in performing the intended action by going to the mentioned event.
It further implies that the subject is not asking for permission, but just informing about the desired action. instead.
To make things clearer, here's another sentence with "whether or not".
Whether you get mad or not, I'm quitting my job.
The above sentence also represents the finality of the subject's decision, with no intention of considering the other's opinion.
Therefore, to be or not to be is crucial in situations that require persuasion, as well as for conveying persuasion. or purpose of a decision.
Examples of "if" in a sentence
Contrary to the purpose of "if or not", we only use "if" if at least one of the implied or provided options is possible.
On the one hand, "whether or not" implies conviction; on the other hand, "if" denotes uncertainty about the options.
We probably use "if" when we want advice, a second opinion, or confirmation of details based on assumptions.
I've been fighting with myself whether to go or stay.
In the sentence above, the subject cannot decidewhichtake any of the above measures.
Also, implies hesitation and doubt about the intended result.
Again, to see the difference from the previously discussed variant, here is another example sentence.
I need you to help me decide if I should buy a house or just rent an apartment for now.
The subject in the scenario above seeks advice based on the two available options, which is common when the course of action is risky..
Therefore, using "if" is beneficial in cases where we are not sure what action to take, as opposed to a sense of confidence.
What phrases do "ob" and "ob" work in?
NowIn order for the basic meanings to be explained, it is also important to understand some syntactic antecedents. about the subject.
In short, "whether or not" is possible if the clause modifies the verb in the sentence while retaining the meaning of "I don't care".
“Ob” is applicable in sentences when the clause functions as the object or verb, the object of the preposition or the subject of the sentence.
While, both expressions work in sentences where only one option is specified and can be replaced by "if".
In what sentences is it possible "whether or not"?
As pointed out earlier, the use of "whether or not" is essential when conveying the meaning "whether or not" because of belief and belief.
Syntactically, this may be the case when the clause introduced by "wether or not" modifies the main verb in the sentence.
"Want or not" acts as a verb modifier
In the next sentence, the ob clause modifies the main verb, which is "will be done".
She will finish the race whether she passes out or not.
In which sentences is "ob" possible?
"Ob", on the other hand, is more flexible than the previous expression.
This is most appropriate in cases where the introducing phrase is the object of the verb, the object of the preposition,Ethe subject of the sentence.
"If" clause acting as an object ofVerb
In the next example, the if clause is the direct object that answers the question "what does the subject do".,of the simple past verb "asked".
She asked if he was still single.
"If" clause that acts as the object of the preposition
In this example, the if clause is used as the object of the "about" preposition, which cananybe a noun or pronoun.
We had a discussion about pursuing the case.
"if" clause that acts as the subject of the sentence
In the following example, the clause ob is used as the subject of the sentence, a noun,Ofollows the predicate.
Whether she wins the contest depends on the judges.
What phrases do "ob" and "ob" work in?
Technically, the "or not" part is optional, since the clause is just an option and can be replaced with "if".
one thing to notealthoughis that changing the conjunction to "if" would turn the sentence into a conditional clause, which could be interpreted as less formal than using "if [or not]".
While the use of "if [or not]" implies a binary choice, the use of "if" would make the sentence more presumptive and thus further limit the implication.
When only one option is specified and it can be replaced by "if".
I amExamplebelow, omitting or including "or not" will not necessarily affect the grammaticalness of the sentence when used in written and spoken English.
He asked me if I was upset.
While this might get the attention of grammar pedants, it means native speakers won't misunderstand the meaning of the phrase.
So you don't have to worry if you keep using this framework.
The most important thinginventsis not to add another option that is preceded by the conjunction "or" after it.
Incorrect:He asked me if I was really upset or just faking it.
Remember that adding one more purpose option omits the "or not" function in the sentence,thereforeit only requires "if".
Correct:He asked me if I was really upset or just faking it.
"Will it or won't" vs. "Will" in Questions
To reiterate the key points mentioned earlier, "whether or not" is used when the aim is to convey conviction and finality.
Whereas "if" is used both in the intentional presentation of two choices and in some sense of uncertainty.
Asking,to workpossible, it is better to omit the optional "or not" if only information is to be fetched.
However, if the objective is to highlight both positive and negative choices,ThenIt is possible to add the phrase “or not” on purpose.
To see them more clearly, here are some examples.
Use of "whether or not" in questions
If for some reason the question is motivated by intense emotion, we could overtly emphasize the negative option of increasing authority.
Do you know if Greg is coming or not?
Use of "ob" in questions
Again, by presenting two different options,asIn the two schemes in the next example, the words "or not" are irrelevant.
Can you tell me if the meeting is at 2 pm or 3 pm?
Frequently asked questions about whether (or not)
What does "if" mean exactly?
"Ob" is a type of subordinating conjunction used to join a dependent clause with an independent clause, forming a complex clause. Its main purpose is to represent options and has a meaning closely related to "if" or "either".
What's another way of saying whether or not it is?
"Whether or not" is similar to "it doesn't matter", "it doesn't matter", "nevertheless" or "regardless of", which is mainly used to convey a sense of conviction for persuasion purposes.
What is the difference between "if" and "if" ?
While the "if" intends to mediate decisions, the "if" aims to present limiting conditions. The restrictive function of "if" makes it less formal, more obligatory, and more imposing than "if."
Diploma
Subordinating conjunctions including "if" and "whether or not" are quite confusing as they are mainly used for higher order thought processes.
Given that the role of this type of conjunction is to build complex sentence structures, even the most experienced writers can get bogged down in its use and function.
So the next time you have a similar problem, pat yourself on the back for only being interested in this type of topic.despite that.
Marcel Iseli
Hello dear linguaholics! it's me marcel I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I studied linguistics, computational linguistics and sinology at the University of Zurich. It is a great pleasure to share with you everything I know about languages and linguistics in general.
FAQs
How to use either and neither in sentences and give examples? ›
When they act as pronouns, either means “one or the other,” while neither means “not one or the other.” For example: “Either of these roads go to London.” “Neither of my kids are strong enough to lift this.”
What is an example of either or not? ›You can neither go by bus nor by taxi. They are both efficient. You can either go by bus or by taxi. They are both efficient.
What are examples of sentences with neither nor and either or? ›Either my mother or my father will call. Neither the pizza nor the ice-cream is here. Rita wants either a motorcycle or a water scooter for her birthday. Poco likes neither tea nor coffee; he prefers carrot juice.
What is the difference between or and either? ›Either is used before the first item in the contrast, and or is used before the second item. Either and or can be used to contrast two: Nouns. Prepositional phrases.
What is an example sentence for either way? ›We'll starve either way, we may as well starve with dignity. I'm just thankful either way. She's enough like her mother not to care very much either way, just so long as she made an impact. AN entertaining game which could have gone either way but Spurs just won't be denied right now.
What is the rule for either or? ›Either...Or ('one or another') is used in affirmative sentences to offer a choice between two possibilities, or to express a cause-effect relationship: I can serve you either a hot chocolate, or a glass of chilled white wine. You can choose between hot chocolate and chilled white wine.
What is the rule for either or neither nor? ›Either/Or, Neither/Nor
Both choices are used during comparisons of two things, but the difference is: Either/or is used when making a positive decision between two or more things. Neither/nor is used when the choice is negative or the person wants to say that more than one thing is not true.
When used as an adjective either means "one or the other of two people or things," and neither means "not one or the other of two people or things." In other words, neither means "not either." The following example sentences show this use. You may borrow either book. [=you may borrow one or the other of the two books]
What are 5 examples of nor in a sentence? ›She did not return that night, nor the night after. Asking him politely doesn't work, nor do threats. I have not been asked to resign, nor do I intend to do so. She could not speak, nor could she understand anything we said.
What is an example of neither in sentences? ›- Neither parent came to meet the teacher. (The mother didn't come and the father didn't come.)
- Neither dress fitted her. (There were two dresses and not one of them fitted her.)
- Neither of us went to the concert.
- Neither of the birthday cards was suitable.
What are 5 examples of compound sentences using nor? ›
N – nor She doesn't drink milk, nor does she eat butter. I can't whistle, nor can I sing. He didn't study last night, nor did he read his book. They were not wearing jackets, nor were they carrying umbrellas.
Do You Say Me neither or me either? ›Both "me neither" and "me either" are often used to agree with a negative statement, but "me either" is often considered ungrammatical. "I've never eaten snails." "Me neither!" [=I've never eaten snails either.] Note: "Me either" can be used here but would be considered incorrect by some people.
Is either or only used for two things? ›“The traditional rule holds that either should be used only to refer to one of two items and that any is required when more than two items are involved: Any (not either) of the three opposition candidates still in the race would make a better president than the incumbent.
Can you use either or for more than two? ›Standard dictionaries generally accept the use of “either” or “neither” to introduce a series of more than two items. Merriam-Webster Unabridged, for example, says “either” can be used “before two or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses joined usually by or.” It defines “neither” as “not one of two or more.”
Do you use either after plural or singular? ›Using "either"
It is equivalent to "one or the other". Because it refers to just one member of a pair, either must be used before a singular noun. It can also be used with a plural noun or pronoun if followed by "of".
“Neither” can appear at the beginning of a sentence as well as the middle. For example, “Neither the man nor the woman is a good surfer” is nice and balanced.
What are 5 examples of simple sentences? ›- Joe waited for the train. "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb.
- The train was late. ...
- Mary and Samantha took the bus. ...
- I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station. ...
- Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
Examples of Signal Words and Phrases
Place: elsewhere, here, above, below, farther on… Example: for instance, for example, for one thing… Contrast: however, but, on the other hand… Sequence: first, second, next, finally… Amplification: again, in addition, furthermore… Emphasis: in fact, yes, no, indeed…
- I neither speak Spanish nor understand it. ...
- He likes neither apples nor oranges. ...
- You neither know how to sing nor how to dance. ...
- Sean neither drives a car, nor does he have a car. ...
- My new dress is neither short nor long; it is the right length. ...
- Our teacher speaks neither loudly nor softly.
The team that is neither one thing nor the other. As it stands, this year's tournament is neither one thing nor the other. Silver is neither one thing nor the other. Poetry is neither one thing nor the other.
What is an example of neither as an adjective? ›
As an adjective or pronoun meaning “not either,” neither is usually followed by a singular verb and referred to by a singular personal pronoun: Neither lawyer prepares her own briefs. Neither performs his duties for reward.
What are 10 examples of complex sentence? ›- Because he was late again, he would be docked a day's pay.
- While I am a passionate basketball fan, I prefer football.
- Although she was considered smart, she failed all her exams.
- Whenever it rains, I like to wear my blue coat.
- I like coffee. Mary likes tea. → I like coffee, and Mary likes tea.
- Mary went to work. John went to the party. I went home. → Mary went to work, but John went to the party, and I went home.
- Our car broke down. We came last. → Our car broke down; we came last.
For, and, nor, or, yet, so, still, besides, otherwise, or else, nevertheless. The above coordinating conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases and clauses or sentences.
Is it either John or me or John or I? ›When to Use Myself and John. You should never use myself and John or John and myself. Both phrases are grammatically incorrect. Instead, use John and me if the speaker is the object of the sentence, and use John and I if the speaker is the subject of the sentence.
What is an example of me too and me neither? ›Me Too / Me Neither
The easiest way to agree in English is to say “Me too” (to agree with a positive statement) or “Me neither” (to agree with a negative statement): “I love strawberry ice cream.” “Me too!” “I don't go to the gym very often.”
In negation: either comes last and combines with a negated verb; neither comes first and combines with a positive verb. Alone: either means “one of the two”; neither means “none of the two.” Use a singular verb. Either combines with or; neither combines with nor.
What is the rule for neither nor? ›Some of the neither /nor rules are as follows. If neither is followed by a verb, nor must be followed by a verb, too. If neither is followed by a noun, nor must be followed by a noun. If neither is followed by a phrase, nor must be followed by a phrase.
What is the difference between neither and neither nor? ›Both neither and nor are used to express a negative but nor is always used in the presence of neither and follows it. On the other hand, neither can be used alone in a sentence. This can be seen in sentences with 'neither of the two'.
What is an example of a neither nor subject verb agreement? ›If a sentence has two subjects connected by or/nor, either/or, or neither/nor, the verb must agree with the second subject (the subject closer to the verb). EXAMPLE: Neither the dogs nor the cat is going outside. The singular subject “cat” matches the singular verb “is.”
How do you use neither in a sentence as a conjunction? ›
as a conjunction with nor (connecting two words or phrases): Neither Simon nor Sally can swim. He was neither as slim nor as healthy as I was. as a determiner (followed by a singular noun): Neither woman seemed sure of what to say. as a pronoun: There were two witnesses, but neither would make a statement.
What is an example of nor? ›- It's neither good nor bad.
- I neither know nor care what they think.
- Neither you nor I nor anyone else will tell him.
- His problems are neither my business nor yours.
'So do I' is used to say that a positive sentence is also true for me. Paul: I like chocolate. 'Neither do I' is used to say that a negative sentence is also true for me. Paul: I don't like to go to school everyday.
What does it mean when someone says me neither? ›(colloquial) Used to say that a negative-containing statement of the previous speaker applies to the speaker as well. "I don't go there any more." / "Me neither." "I never go there." / "Me neither." "Would you go there?" / "No way." / "Me neither."