if ... then

Linking a Condition and a Result

Level 2

If introduces a condition and then can identify the result: If rain, then we take bus. Full English clause forms also work; neither then nor a local particle is required in every conditional.

How It Works

If names a condition, and the following clause states what happens under that condition. Then can mark the result: If rain, then we take bus. The shorter local clauses and full English clauses can both form useful conditionals.

A condition is not automatically a fact. If rain does not assert that it is raining now. Then may be omitted where the relationship is clear. For a plan, make the result practical and keep its participants identifiable. Later, local speech also allows some conditional readings without if, but that does not mean any two unrelated clauses form a conditional.

Examples (4)

  1. If rain, then we take bus.

    If it rains, we will take the bus.

  2. If you finish early, call me.

    Call me if you finish early.

  3. If no seats, we stand.

    If there are no seats, we will stand.

  4. If she can come, we book three tickets.

    If she can come, we will book three tickets.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

if ... thenLevel 2Linking a Condition and a Result

Learn This First

Distinguish the condition from the result as two connected clauses.

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Patterns that build on this one.