Conditional Tense: Using IF

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IF ... THEN

If ... then is a common pattern in English. The word then is optional. With this pattern, you can put if at the beginning or in the middle. In other words, the order of the if phrase and then phrase can be switched. The difference in meaning is not significant.

Examples

If I finish work early, then I'll come to your party.   I'll come to your party if I finish work early.

If she gets her promotion, then she plans to buy a house.   She plans to buy a house if she gets her promotion.

If you do not change your diet, you might develop health problems.    

You might develop health problems if you do not change your diet.


Using IF with Different Verb Tenses

Look at the sentences below to observe how if can be used with conditional words and different tenses.

Tense	Example
If - Present / Then CAN, WILL or MIGHT	If you do your homework, you can get good grades.
If - Present Progressive / Then CAN, WILL or MIGHT	If you are going, then I can go too.
If - Present Perfect / Then CAN, WILL, MIGHT or SHOULD with Future	If the team has already started on the project, they will finish on time.
If - Present Perfect Progressive / Then CAN, WILL, MIGHT or SHOULD with Present	If he has been practicing piano regularly, he can get a high score at the competition. If they have been talking on the phone every day, they might be in love.
If - Past Perfect / Then WOULD, COULD  or MIGHT with Present or Present Perfect	If you had studied more, you would be okay now. If only you had seen that car, you could have avoided the accident.
If - Past Perfect Progressive / Then WOULD, COULD or MIGHT with Present or Present Perfect	If you had been cleaning your house regularly, you would not have to deal with this terrible mess. If I had been playing the guitar since I was ten, like you, I would be a better player now.

As you can see, these statements are often used to express advice, uncertainty, or regret.

Challenge: Practice each pattern above by writing sentences related to your life.

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