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In general, if and whether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

 

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

In general, if and whether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

 

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

In general, if and whether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

Tidied formatting to fix ambiguous use/mention distinction. Removed irrelevant final paragraph.
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edit approved Jan 31, 2013 at 2:36
TRiG
edit approved Jan 31, 2013 at 2:36
TRiG
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In general, ifif and whetherwhether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

Your example is a bit odd, as coming and going have opposite meanings in that you go from one place to another, but ask that someone come to you. So in theory you can't really be doing both without giving more context, but that's for another question.

In general, if and whether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

Your example is a bit odd, as coming and going have opposite meanings in that you go from one place to another, but ask that someone come to you. So in theory you can't really be doing both without giving more context, but that's for another question.

In general, if and whether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

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Squazic
Squazic
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In general, if and whether can be substituted for each other. In certain situations, they have different meanings. For example:

I don't know whether I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

I don't know if I should arrive on Friday or Saturday

The first sentence implies that the person will arrive, but they are not sure when. The second sentence could be read that the person might not arrive at all.

Your example is a bit odd, as coming and going have opposite meanings in that you go from one place to another, but ask that someone come to you. So in theory you can't really be doing both without giving more context, but that's for another question.