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if

conj. · n.
  1. 1 condition or possibility (conj.)
    A1 Beginner

    used to say that one thing will happen only if another thing happens first.

    introduces a conditional clause (the protasis) upon which the main clause (the apodosis) depends.

    Example

    If it rains tomorrow, we will have the party inside the house.

    Example

    If the company achieves its quarterly targets, the board of directors will likely approve a significant bonus for all staff members.

    Usage

    In real conditionals, the 'if' clause usually takes a present tense to refer to future possibilities.
    Pitfall
    If I will see him, I will tell him.
    If I see him, I will tell him.

    In first conditional sentences, use the present simple after 'if' to talk about the future, not 'will'.

  2. 2 imaginary situations (conj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    used to talk about something that is not true now, or is very unlikely to happen.

    introduces a counterfactual or hypothetical condition, typically requiring the past simple or past perfect in the subordinate clause.

    Example

    If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world for a year.

    Example

    If the government had acted more decisively during the initial phase of the crisis, the economic fallout might have been significantly mitigated.

    Usage

    Often used with 'would' in the main clause to describe the result of the imaginary condition.
    Pitfall
    If I was you, I would go.
    If I were you, I would go.

    In formal English, use 'were' instead of 'was' after 'if' for hypothetical situations, especially with the person 'I'.

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  1. 3 whether (conj.)
    A2 Elementary

    used to introduce a question or a choice between two possibilities.

    functions as a complementizer to introduce an indirect question or a noun clause, often following verbs of asking or doubting.

    Example

    I am not sure if the shop is open on Sundays.

    Example

    The manager asked the technician if the server migration could be completed without any further downtime for the clients.

    Usage

    Commonly follows verbs like 'ask', 'know', 'wonder', or 'see'.
  2. 4 although (conj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    used to introduce a contrast, similar to 'even though'.

    used to introduce a concessive clause, often to qualify a statement or admit a contrasting fact.

    Example

    It was a good speech, if a little long.

    Example

    The results of the study were encouraging, if somewhat inconsistent across the different age groups tested.
  3. 5 uncertainty (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a condition or a reason to doubt something.

    a condition, requirement, or uncertainty; frequently used in the plural or the fixed phrase 'no ifs or buts'.

    Example

    There are a lot of ifs in this plan, so we need a backup.

    Example

    The success of the merger is subject to several major ifs, primarily regarding regulatory approval and shareholder consensus.
Word family
  • Adjectiveiffy
  • Conjunctionif

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