if clauses
Sentences with conditions
If clauses are the conditional parts of sentences that set up hypothetical or contingent situations.
They typically begin with "if" and establish what must be true for something else to follow: If it rains, we'll cancel the picnic.
Grammarians distinguish types based on how likely or real the condition is—from open possibilities if you call her to impossible counterfactuals if I had known.
The if clause can come first or second: I'll go if you go.
- hypotheticalAssumed but unproven
- hypothetical scenarioImagined situation for reasoning
- supposeAccept as true tentatively
- assumingAccepting as true unverified
- whetherConjunction expressing doubt
then · subjunctive · contingent · possibility · maybe · provided · as long as · unless · in case · otherwise · scenario · imagine · consequence · outcome · trigger · dependent · grammar · stipulation
if, clause, clauses, conditional, conditionally, conditionality, unconditional, unconditionally, condition