How to write long sentences – the conjunction ‘if’

Last week Grammar Girl gave you a long list of conjunctions and promised to explain them in a little more detail this week.

This week I thought I’d focus on one particular conjunction: IF.

There are many rules around ‘if’ and they are all related to the concept of ‘conditional sentences:’

If I have enough money,
conditional clause

I will go buy some dollars.
main clause

First, Second, and Third Conditional
1. First conditional:    If I have enough money, I will buy some dollars.
2. Second conditional:   If I had enough money, I would buy some dollars.
3. Third conditional:    If I had had enough money, I would have bought some dollars

There is not enough room in this blog to explain the difference in meaning so I’ll just end with a reminder:

1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if-clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they can be used in if-clauses.

e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.
(= ± please, come this way; please, give me…)

2. For the second conditional, were replaces was:

If I were a rich man…

3. After if, we can either use “some(-one, -where…)” or “any(-one, -where…).

If I have some spare time next weekend….or :
If I have any spare time…

4. Instead of if not, we can use unless.

e.g. I’ll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike.
He’ll accept the job unless the salary is too low.

5.There is a “mixed type” as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the past:

If + Past Perfect – would + inf.
If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].

See you again next week for more Grammar tips !