if

[[t]ɪf[/t]]

♦

(Often pronounced [[t]ɪ̱f[/t]] at the beginning of the sentence.)

1) CONJ-SUBORD You use if in conditional sentences to introduce the circumstances in which an event or situation might happen, might be happening, or might have happened.

She gets very upset if I exclude her from anything...

You'll feel a lot better about yourself if you work on solutions to your upsetting situations...

You can go if you want...

If you would like to send a donation to Cobuild, please enclose a cheque with your coupon...

If you went into town, you'd notice all the pubs have loud jukeboxes...

What I did was right and if I had done anything less it would have been wrong...

Fry remaining peppers, adding a little more dressing if necessary...

Are you a student with a knack for coming up with great ideas? If so, we would love to hear from you.

2) CONJ-SUBORD You use if in indirect questions where the answer is either `yes' or `no'.

He asked if I had left with you, and I said no...

I wonder if I might have a word with Mr Abbot?

Syn:

whether

3) CONJ-SUBORD: with neg You use if to suggest that something might be slightly different from what you are stating in the main part of the sentence, for example that there might be slightly more or less of a particular quality.

Sometimes, that standard is quite difficult, if not impossible, to achieve...

I'm working on my fitness and I will be ready in a couple of weeks, if not sooner...

Many, if not most, scientific papers are presented orally at scientific meetings...

What one quality, if any, do you like the most about your partner?...

Meat was available once a week if at all.

4) CONJ-SUBORD You use if, usually with `can', `could', `may', or `might', at a point in a conversation when you are politely trying to make a point, change the subject, or interrupt another speaker.

If I could just make another small point about the weightlifters in the Olympics...

So, if we may return strictly to athletics again for a few minutes...

But if I can interrupt, Joe, I don't think anybody here is personally blaming the Germans...

Well, it's the old argument Max, which is a bit ridiculous if you don't mind me saying so...

Well if you want my opinion, unless you do it soon you're gonna lose the opportunity and you'll be really sorry.

5) CONJ-SUBORD (politeness) You use if at or near the beginning of a clause when politely asking someone to do something.

I wonder if you'd be kind enough to give us some information, please?...

If you will just sign here, we will arrange for your bank to deduct your payments automatically.

6) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD You use if not in front of a word or phrase to indicate that your statement does not apply to that word or phrase, but to something closely related to it that you also mention.

A number of recent advances hold out if not the hope of a cure, then at least the possibility of some drug which could stop the spread of the virus...

She understood his meaning, if not his words, and took his advice.

Syn:

although not

7) CONJ-SUBORD You use if to introduce a subordinate clause in which you admit a fact which you regard as less important than the statement in the main clause.

If there was any disappointment it was probably temporary...

Even if I'm overstating the case for nutrition, at least it will result in the woman being in charge of her own symptoms...

So what if sometimes they stayed rather late, it doesn't mean anything.

8) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD (emphasis) You use if ever with past tenses when you are introducing a description of a person or thing, to emphasize how appropriate it is.

I became a distraught, worried mother, a useless role if ever there was one...

If ever there was the right person in the right job it was she...

If ever a man needed your love, I need it.

9) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD You use if only with past tenses to introduce what you think is a fairly good reason for doing something, although you realize it may not be a very good one.

She always writes me once a month, if only to scold me because I haven't answered her last letter yet...

A one-to-one meeting with the US President was necessary, if only for a deeper exchange of views.

10) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD (feelings) You use if only to express a wish or desire, especially one that cannot be fulfilled.

If only you had told me that some time ago...

If only it were that simple!...

`Hey, listen to me, all that 1980 nonsense is over.' - `If only, Timothy, if only.'

11) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD You use as if when you are making a judgement about something that you see or notice. Your belief or impression might be correct, or it might be wrong.

The whole room looks as if it has been lovingly put together over the years...

His heart was pounding, as if he were frightened.

Syn:

as though

12) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD You use as if to describe something or someone by comparing them with another thing or person.

He points two fingers at his head, as if he were holding a gun...

The two cousins looked as if they'd been carved from blocks of ice.

Syn:

as though

13) PHR-CONJ-SUBORD (emphasis) You use as if to emphasize that something is not true. [SPOKEN]

My husband, for some unknown reason, suggested that I loved my birds more than him: as if I would...

Getting my work done! My God! As if it mattered.

Syn:

as though

14) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use `if anything' to introduce something which strengthens or changes the meaning of the statement you have just made, but only in a small or unimportant way.

Katie and I also lived with a friend and we got on OK. If anything it strengthened our relationship...

Asthma drugs are not addictive and you don't need to keep increasing the dose. If anything, the reverse is true.

15) PHRASE: V inflects You use `It's not as if' to introduce a statement which, if it were true, might explain something puzzling, although in fact it is not true.

I am surprised by the degree of fuss she's making. It's not as if my personality has changed or vanished.

16) PHRASE: PHR with cl You say `if I were you' to someone when you are giving them advice.

If I were you, Mrs Gretchen, I just wouldn't worry about it...

What I'd do if I were you is be nice to him...

I should lie down for a bit, if I were you.