if
conjunction
uk/ɪf/us/ɪf/ifconjunction(IN THAT SITUATION)
A2
used to say that aparticularthing can or willhappenonly after somethingelsehappensorbecomestrue:
假如，如果I'llpayyoudoubleif you get theworkfinishedbyFriday.如果你周五前完工，我付你双倍的报酬。
We'll have thepartyin thegardenif the weather's good. Ifnot(= if theweatheris not good), it'll have to be inside.如果天气好的话，我们将在花园里开派对。如果不好，就只好在室内了。
If anyonecalls, just say I'll be back in theofficeat four o'clock.要是有人给我打电话，请告诉他们我4点钟回办公室。
If she hadn't called, I wouldn't haveknown.要不是她打来电话，我还不知道呢。
I wouldn'tworkfor them(even)if theypaidmetwicemycurrentsalary.即使他们付给我的工资是现在的两倍，我也不会为他们干活。
We'lldealwith thatproblemifand whenitarises.等到那个问题出现我们再处理。
Ifdisturbed, thebirdmayabandonthenest,leavingthechickstodie.如果受到惊扰，鸟可能会弃巢而去，留下雏鸟，任由它们死亡。
although:
虽然，即使They'regreatkids,evenif they can bedemanding.虽然他们要求多多，但他们是很好的孩子。
literaryIt was ahot, ifwindyday.那天虽然有风，却依然很热。
B1
everytime:
当，每当Ifwaterisheatedto 100°C itturnstosteam.水被加热到100摄氏度时，就会变成蒸汽。
If I don't get enoughsleepI get aheadache.我睡眠不足时就会头疼。
used tomean"if it istruethat":
如果…是真的I'm verysorryif I'veoffendedyou.如果我冒犯了你的话，我很抱歉。
- You'llfeelcoldif you don'twearacoat.
- You have to go tocollegefor a lot ofyearsif youwantto be adoctor.
- Try toactconfidently,evenif youfeelnervous.
- The TV won'tworkif the aerial's notconnected.
- Biscuits willstaycrispif youkeepthem in anairtightcontainer.
Linguistics: connecting words which express a condition
- assuming (that)
- at
- at the risk of doingsomethingidiom
- by
- ceteris paribus
- even
- granted
- lest
- long
- provided (that)
- risk
- suppose
- unless
- whether
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Linguistics: connecting words which express a contrast
ifconjunction(WHETHER)
B1
used tointroduceaclause, often inindirectspeech, thatshowstwo or morepossibilities:
（用于引出从句，常为间接引语）是否MrsKramer calledhalfanhourago toaskif hercakewasready.克雷默夫人半小时前来电话问她的蛋糕做好了没有。
I don'tcareif helikesit or not - I'm coming!我不在乎他乐不乐意，我反正要来！
I waswonderingif you'd like to come to thecinemawith me thisevening?不知你今晚想不想与我一起去看电影？
Compare
whether
- I mustseeif myflatmatehaspaidthosebillsyet.
- Weaskedif thecomputercouldaccesstheinternet.
- You could alwayscallSusie andseeif she mightbabysit.
- Iaskedif she'd like to come out with ustonight.
- I couldn'tfindthestation, so Iaskedsomeone if they coulddirectme.
Linguistics: connecting words which express a condition
- assuming (that)
- at
- at the risk of doingsomethingidiom
- by
- ceteris paribus
- even
- granted
- lest
- long
- provided (that)
- risk
- suppose
- unless
- whether
ifconjunction(REQUEST)
used when youwantto make apoliterequestorremark:
（用于礼貌地作出请求或评论）If you'd like to take aseat, Mr Chang will be with you in amoment.您请先坐一会儿吧，张先生一会儿就过来。
Would youmindif Iopen/opened(= can Iopen)thewindow?我开窗您介意吗？
There are, if you don'tmindme saying so, one or twoproblemswith thisplan.恕我冒昧，我觉得这个计划有一两处问题。
Linguistics: connecting words which express a condition
- assuming (that)
- at
- at the risk of doingsomethingidiom
- by
- ceteris paribus
- even
- granted
- lest
- long
- provided (that)
- risk
- suppose
- unless
- whether
Grammar
Should you(Shouldwith inversion)
In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:…Had you(Hadwith inversion)
In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional sentences:…If+were to
In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that might happen but which we think are unlikely:…As long as,so long as,providing, etc.
Sometimes we need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In these cases, conditional clauses can begin with phrases such as as long as, so long as, only if, on condition that, providing (that), provided (that).…Orandotherwise
We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:…Supposing
Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, second or third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the listener to imagine a situation:…Conditionals: typical errors
We don’t use will and would in the conditional clause:…Conditionals
Conditional sentences consider imagined or uncertain situations and the possible results of these situations. The most common types of conditional sentences involve if:…Conditionals: imagined situations
Conditional sentences consider imagined or uncertain situations and the possible results of these situations. The most common types of conditional sentences involve if:…Conditional sentences
Conditional sentences consist of a conditional clause and a main clause:…Order of clauses
Conditional clauses usually come before main clauses but they may also come after them:…Verb forms in the conditional clause
The verb in the conditional clause may be in the simple form or the continuous form, depending on the meaning:…Conditionals:if
There are different types of conditions. Some are possible or likely, others are unlikely, and others are impossible:…Imagined conditions
There are different types of conditions. Some are possible or likely, others are unlikely, and others are impossible:…Imagined conditions: the first conditional
We use the first conditional to talk about the result of an imagined future situation, when we believe the imagined situation is quite likely:…Imagined conditions: the second conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about the possible result of an imagined situation in the present or future. We say what the conditions must be for the present or future situation to be different.…First and second conditional compared
When we use the first conditional, we think the imagined situation is more likely to happen than when we use the second conditional.…Imagined conditions: the third conditional
We use the third conditional when we imagine a different past, where something did or did not happen, and we imagine a different result:…Real conditionals
Some conditions seem more real to us than others. Real conditionals refer to things that are true, that have happened, or are very likely to happen:…Types of conditional: summary
The table shows how the main types of conditionals relate to one another.…If+should
We can use if with should to refer to events which might happen by chance or by accident:…Conditional clauses withwillorwould
Will and would can be used in conditional clauses, either with the meaning of ‘being willing to do something’, or to refer to later results:…Mixed conditionals
Often, things that did or did not happen in the past have results which continue or are still important in the present. We can emphasise this by using if with a past perfect verb, and would in the main clause.…Conditionals in speaking
In speaking, we often use if-clauses without main clauses, especially when asking people politely to do things. If is usually followed by will, would, can or could when it is used to be polite:…Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)
Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.…Unless
Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.…If
If is a conjunction.…Iforwhen?
We use if to introduce a possible or unreal situation or condition. We use when to refer to the time of a future situation or condition that we are certain of:…If: conditions
We often use if to introduce possible or impossible situations or conditions and their results. The situations or conditions can be real, imagined or uncertain:…If possible,if necessary
We can sometimes leave words out after if to form fixed expressions:…If so,if not
We use so or not after if when it is obvious what we are referring to:…Even if
We can use even if to mean if when talking about surprising or extreme situations:…If: reporting questions
We use if to introduce reported yes-no questions and questions with or.…Ifand politeness
In speaking, we often use if to introduce a polite request. If is usually followed by modal verbs will, would, can or could when it is used to be polite:…Whenorif?
We use when to refer to a future situation or condition that we are certain of, whereas we use if to introduce a possible or unreal situation.…Whethernotif
We use whether and not if after prepositions:…I doubt if,I don’t know whether
We use if or whether to introduce clauses after verbs of doubting:…If, whether: typical errors
We use whether, not if, before to-infinitives:…Iforwhether?
…Ifandwhether: indirect questions
We can use if or whether to report indirect yes-no questions and questions with or. If is more common than whether:…Idioms
if and when
if anything
if I were you
if need be
if you will
if
noun[Cusually singular]
informaluk/ɪf/us/ɪf/something that is notcertainor notyetdecided:
不确定因素；未决之事；疑问There's abigifhangingover theproject(= it isuncertainwhether theprojectwillhappen).这个计划能否启动仍然悬而未决。
Suspecting & questioning
- ask questions ofsomeone/somethingidiom
- call into questionidiom
- challenge
- cynical
- cynically
- cynicism
- doubt
- doubter
- doubting Thomas
- fisking
- misgiving
- niggle
- oppugn
- query
- reserve
- sceptical
- skeptic
- smell a ratidiom
- suspicion
- suspicious
Idiom
no ifs or buts