Question

what is IF Clauseand explain with examples

Answer 1

f-clauses are also known as conditional clauses or conditional sentences. This means that the event in the main clause (not counting the if) only takes place if the condition in the clause containing if is fulfilled.

Mother: “Greg, I want to make a cake this afternoon. Will you help me?”Greg: “If I have time, I’ll help you.”Mother: “Greg, I am going to make the cake now. Can you help me?”Greg: “If I had time, I’d help you. But I have to do my homework.”Mother: “Now I’ve made the cake myself. Why didn’t you help me?”Greg: “If I’d had time, I would have helped you. But I had to do my homework.”Usage and ConstructionType I (real conditional)

We use type I to talk about a condition that could possibly become true in the present or the future.
(Maybe I’ll have time later.)

if + present simple, will-future

Example:If I have time, I will help you.Type II (unreal condition – present)

We use type II to talk about present or future conditions that are unreal – they are not true or not likely to become true in the future.
(I know I don’t have any time.)

if + simple past, would + infinitive

Example:If I had time, I would help you.To Note

If a type II if-clause has the verb be in the clause containing if, then we use were (not was).

Example:If I were you, I would not do this.
(not: If I was you, …)Type III (unreal condition – past)

We use type III to talk about a past condition that is unreal – it did not take place.
(I didn’t have any time.)

if + past perfect, would have + past participle

Example:If I had had time, I would have helped you.To Note

In place of will/would in coniditional sentences, we can use use other modal vebs. However, using other verbs will change the meaning of the sentence.

Example:If I have time, I can/could/may/might help you.If I had time, I could/might help you.If I had had time, I could/might have helped you.Notes on Sentence Structure

If the clause containing if comes after the main clause, then we don’t use a comma.

Example:I will help you if I have time.I would help you if I had time.I would have helped you if I had had time.