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Complete the following exercises about Alternatives to If

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Alternatives to If | English Grammar B2 Level

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A conditional sentence is usually composed by two parts: the If-clause (or conditional clause) that expresses the condition, and the main clause that expresses the consequence of that condition.

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IF and WHEN

When can replace if in zero conditionals:

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 watereven 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:

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:

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 windowif 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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IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS, PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS, BUT FOR, IF NECESSARY, IF SO, IN CASE etc.

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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.

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Zero, first, second, third and mixed conditionals

You can see a full explanation of type 0, type 1, type 2 and type 3 conditional with examples.

Mixed conditionals

We use mixed conditionals if we want to mix talking about the present and the past in the same sentence. The mixed conditional is a combination of the second and the third conditional:

➪ We can use past simple or continuous in the if-clause (to refer to the present or future), and would/ should/ might have + past participle in the main clause (to refer to the past).

➪ We can also use past perfect in the if-clause (to refer to the past), and would/ should/ might + infinitive (to refer to the present).

Alternatives to if in conditional sentences

As long as / provided (that) / providing (that) / on condition (that) / only if

We can use the expressions as long as, provided/providing (that), on condition (that), or only if instead of if when we want to emphasize the condition that needs to be present so that something can happen or be done.

Whether or not

We use whether or not when there are two alternatives and we want to say that something will happen or will be true in any of those two alternatives. Compare:

Even if

We also use even if with a similar meaning to 'whether or not'. It is used to emphasize that something will still be true or will happen if another thing happens.

Suppose/supposing

We normally use suppose or supposing at the beginning of a sentence to make someone imagine a situation. It means 'what would happen if', or simply 'if' (imagining a situation).

Inversion in conditional sentences

Should you find

In first conditional sentences it's possible to use should at the beginning of the sentence instead of if. This form is formal and it's quite common with an imperative form in the main clause.

Had we arrived

In third conditional sentences, we can invert the auxiliary verb had and leave if out. Had we arrived = If we had arrived.

Had they looked further into the data, they might have realised there was a mistake.

Were we to announce

We can also find cases of inversion with this structure: were + subject + to. + infinitive. It is used to talk about f uture improbable events (like the second conditional).

Were we to announce the truth, we would receive a lot of criticism. (=If we announced ...)

Were they to buy a new house, they would need to sell the old one first. (=If they bought ...)

Negative forms: should I not, had we not, were we not

When should, had or were are negative, contracted forms are not possible, and not is used after the subject.

Should you not wish to retake the test, you must let us know before the end of June. (NOT Shouldn't you wish)

Had you not refused my invitation, we would have had the most incredible time in our lives. (NOT Hadn't you refused)

Were you not my brother, I would call the police. (NOT Weren't you)

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All conditionals - mixed conditionals, alternatives to 'if', inversion - Test-English

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We use zero and first conditionals to talk about possible situations, and we use the second and third conditional for hypothetical situations. Mixed conditionals are a combination of second and third conditional. Check our complete grammar explanation and do our three online exercises. B1-B2 English grammar online.