If clauses

If clauses are usually used to talk about uncertain events and situations. They often refer to a condition - something which must happen first, so that something else can happen.

·         If you love me, I will love you.

·         If you study well, you will pass the exam. 

·         If you marry me, I will make you my queen. 

·         If you don't hurry up, you will be late. 

Clauses of this kind are often called conditional clauses. There are four main types of conditional clauses in English. They are:

·         Zero conditional 

·         Type 1 conditional

·         Type 2 conditional 

·         Type 3 conditional

Position of an if clause

An if-clause can come at the beginning or end of a sentence. When an if-clause begins a sentence, we use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Compare:

·         I will phone you if I have time. 

·         If I have time, I will phone you. 

Leaving out If

In a formal or literary style if can be dropped and an auxiliary verb put before the subject. This is common with had, should and were.

·         Were I you I would accept the offer. (= If I were you I would accept the offer.) 

·         Had he not received her help he wouldn't have become a millionaire. (= If he had not received...)