是否英文、whether用法終極解析，多益文法必考題!

表達「是否」：whether/if

我們可以將whether或if用於yes/no間接問句。Whether比if稍微正式。例句：

Do you know whether the strawberries are fresh?
= Do you know if the strawberries are fresh?
(你知道這些草莓新鮮嗎？)

I wonder whether you can help me move.
= I wonder if you can help me move.
(我想知道你是否可以幫我搬家。)

我們可以在間接問句裡加入or not，不過我們必須留意or not的位置，or not不能緊接if之後。例句：

I would like to know whether the rooms have a shower or not.
= I would like to know whether or not the rooms have a shower.
= I would like to know if the rooms have a shower or not.
(我想知道房間裡是否有浴室。)

✘ 錯誤用法：I would like to know if or not the rooms have a shower.

表達「選項」：whether/if … or

我們可以用whether/if … or來表達「選項」。例句：

I can't decide whether I should go to graduate school or enter the workforce after graduation.
= I can't decide if I should go to graduate school or enter the workforce after graduation.
(我無法決定畢業之後要讀研究所還是進入職場。)

Can you tell me whether you're a cat person or a dog person?
= Can you tell me if you're a cat person or a dog person?
(你可以跟我說你比較喜歡貓還是狗嗎？)

利用不定詞片語表達未來計畫的選項時，我們只能使用whether，而不能用if。例句：

Sam can't decide whether to stay single or get married.
(Sam無法決定他要維持單身還是結婚。)

✘ 錯誤用法：Sam can't decide if to stay single or get married.

在介系詞之後，只能使用whether，不能使用if。例句：

Dan is interested in whether Amy has a boyfriend.
(Dan很好奇Amy是否有男友。)

✘ 錯誤用法：Dan is interested in if Amy has a boyfriend.

表達「不管；不論」：whether

如果我們要表達某事無論如何都會發生的話，我們只能用whether。例句：

Whether you like it or not, you're going to look after your little brother.
= You're going to look after your little brother, whether you like it or not.
(無論你喜不喜歡，你都要照顧你弟弟。)

Someone has to tell Jim he's left go, whether it's you or me.
(總有人要告訴Jim他被裁員了，不論是你還是我。)

Breakfast is included in your stay, whether you book through a travel agency, a third-party website, or directly with us.
(住宿包含早餐，無論你訂房時是通過旅行社，第三方網站，或者直接跟我們訂房。)

表達「條件」：if

如果要表達「條件」或「如果」，我們只能用if。例句：

Amy usually makes a lunch box to take to work if she has time.
(如果Amy有時間的話，她通常會做午餐帶去上班。)

If you don't book your flight tickets now, they'll get more and more expensive.
(如果你現在不訂機票的話，它們會越來越貴。)

If you had asked him nicely, I'm sure he would have said yes.
(假如你當時好好問他的話，我肯定他當時會答應你的。)

小練習

1. I would like to know ______ or not I can bring a friend to the wedding reception.

2. The couple couldn't decide ______ to go to France or Italy for their honeymoon.

3. Tom would buy that apartment ______ he had enough money for the down payment.

4. Danny emailed the hotel to inquire about ______ the bed is big enough for two adults and a child.

解析

1. 空格後面是or not，所以空格裡必須填whether。整句話的意思是：我想知道能不能帶朋友去婚禮。

2. 空格後面是不定詞片語，所以空格裡必須填whether。整句話的意思是：那對夫妻無法決定要去法國或義大利度蜜月。

3. 根據句義，「假如」Tom有足夠的錢付房子的頭期款，他就會買那間公寓，因此空格裡填if。

4. 空格前面是介系詞about，所以空格裡必須填whether。整句話的意思是：Danny寫電子郵件給旅館，問床的大小是否可以容納兩個大人及一個小孩。

結論

本篇學習文章說明whether的用法，以及甚麼時候whether可以跟if互換。如果學員想完整地學習英文文法，我們推薦巨匠美語的文法課程。巨匠與專業的文法老師合作，將文法結合聽說讀寫等課堂遊戲，讓你用有趣的方式，有效率地學習英文文法。