Basic Details
Word: Whether
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Meaning: Used when there is a choice between two or more possibilities; often it means if.
Synonyms: if
Sounds like: weather (the state of the air outside, such as rain, sun or wind)
How to Spell Whether
Syllables: wheth - er
Tricky part: It begins with wh, unlike weather, the word for rain and sun. Students also slip in an a from weather and write wheather.
Watch out for: wheather, whather, wheter
Memory tip: Whether asks 'which one?', and both start with wh. Weather keeps the a, because rain needs an a.
Usage Examples
Example 1: I cannot decide whether to wear the blue shirt or the red one.
Example 2: Ask the guard whether the museum is open on Mondays.
Example 3: Whether we win or lose, we will play fairly.
Fun Fact
In Old English, hwaether meant 'which of the two'. The King James Bible of 1611 still uses it that way: 'whether is greater, the gift, or the altar?'
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
Mother asked rhewteh I had finished my homework before I went out to play.
a) whither
b) weather
c) wither
d) whether
Show answer
d) whether. The jumble has two e's and two h's with no a or i, and the sentence is about a choice, not rain.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
wh_th_r
a) e, e
b) a, e
c) e, a
d) o, e
Show answer
a) e, e. Both gaps take the same vowel: wh-e-th-e-r.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. whether 2. allthough 3. unles 4. becuase
a) in spite of the fact that
b) except if
c) used when talking about a choice between possibilities
d) for the reason that
Show answer
c) used when talking about a choice between possibilities. Although has one l, unless ends in ss, and because has au after the c.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Choose the word that completes: 'The ____ was so hot that we stayed indoors.'
a) wither
b) wether
c) whether
d) weather
Show answer
d) weather
2. Whether is most often used to ____.
a) describe the rain, wind and sun
b) say exactly where something is
c) talk about a choice between possibilities
d) give the reason for something
Show answer
c) talk about a choice between possibilities
