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If, Even If, Only If, As Long As, Provided, Supposing, Unless, But For, If Necessary, If So, in CASE Etc

This document discusses various conjunctions and phrases used to express conditional statements in English, including "if", "even if", "only if", "as long as", "provided", "supposing", "unless", "but for", "if necessary", "if so", "in case", and others. It explains the meanings and uses of these terms to describe different types of conditions.

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Ruben Dario Barros Gonzalez
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204 views3 pages

If, Even If, Only If, As Long As, Provided, Supposing, Unless, But For, If Necessary, If So, in CASE Etc

This document discusses various conjunctions and phrases used to express conditional statements in English, including "if", "even if", "only if", "as long as", "provided", "supposing", "unless", "but for", "if necessary", "if so", "in case", and others. It explains the meanings and uses of these terms to describe different types of conditions.

Uploaded by

Ruben Dario Barros Gonzalez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS,

PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS,


BUT FOR, IF NECESSARY, IF SO, IN
CASE etc.
IF and WHEN
When can replace if in zero conditionals:

If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.


When you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.

In the other types of conditionals, we cannot


use when instead of if.

EVEN IF
Even if emphasises that something will happen, would happen
or would have happened whatever the condition:

Even if we leave right now, we still won't catch the train.


I wouldn't go into the water even if I could swim.
Even if we had booked our flight earlier, it wouldn't have
been cheaper.

ONLY IF
Only if makes the condition more restrictive:

Acetaminophen is dangerous to children only if dosage is too


high.

If the if-clause is first, the subject and the auxiliary in the


main clause are inverted:

Only if you like classical music is it worth coming tonight.

SO/AS LONG AS, PROVIDING/PROVIDED (THAT)


So/As long as and providing/provided (that) can be used
instead of if to express a condition. Note
that providing/provided (that) is a bit formal:

You can stay here as long as you keep quiet.


Provided/Providing (that) the bills are paid, tenants will not
be evicted.

SUPPOSE/SUPPOSING, WHAT IF
Suppose/supposing and what if can replace if, mainly in
everyday conversation, and are often used without a main
clause:

Suppose/supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?


Suppose/supposing you can't find a job?
What if you are not accepted to university? What will you do
then?

UNLESS
Unless is followed by an affirmative verb to express "if ...
not":

My leg's broken. I can't stand up unless you help me. (I can't


stand up if you don't help me.)

IF IT WEREN'T FOR / IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR,


BUT FOR
These expressions mean "without". They are used in second
and third conditionals and are usually followed by a noun
phrase:

If it weren't for Miguel, we wouldn't know what to do


now. (Without Miguel...)
If it hadn't been for your foolishness, we wouldn't have got
lost. (If you hadn't been such a fool...)
But for your help, I would have been in big trouble. (Without
your help... / If you hadn't helped me...)

IF IN DOUBT, IF POSSIBLE, IF NECESSARY etc.


We can make the if-clause shorter by omitting the subject
and the verb be:

If (you are) in doubt, consult a dictionary.


In certain idiomatic expressions, the subject and be are
normally omitted:

If necessary, you can call Jake at home.


I'd like a seat by the window if possible.

IF SO, IF NOT
If so and if not can stand for an if-clause which is understood
from the context:

"According to the weather forecast, it might rain tomorrow." "If


so, we'll go hiking another day."
I hope Peter gets here soon. If not, we'll have to start without
him.

IN CASE and IF
An in case-clause gives a reason while an if-clause describes
a condition:

I'll buy a sandwich in case I get hungry. (I'll buy a sandwich


because I may get hungry later.)
I'll buy a sandwich if I get hungry. (I'll buy a sandwich when I
get hungry.)
We can use should after in case:

Take an umbrella in case it should rain.

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